are of the overhead light, she finally got a proper look at him. He was so small, h

square of fabric, a piece of a larger garment perha

t in. She knew no

. Her search history quickly filled with frantic queries: how to feed a

She raced through the aisles, grabbing formula, bottles, diapers

manding wail. Her hands shook as she mixed the formula, testing the t

from the basket. He felt so fragile in

immediately, s

shed over her that it made her dizzy. The raw, ga

ugh her first diaper change. It was a

nst her chest, watching his small body rise and fall with each breath. As the su

trength he would need. And for the letter 'L'

d to make his existence, their existenc

to the dense, confusing world of adoption law.

r. Abernathy. She sat in his dusty office, the bab

by's mother had passed away, the father was unknown.

hip. The law required them to post a notice through social servi

her mind, of someone coming to take him away, was a constant, terrifying

ocial services, her hands tremblin

, her love for him growing deeper with every passing day. She l

n the second room of the apartment. She painted the walls a

taking on freelance fashion design work online.

sound that was the most beautiful thing Deana had ever heard.

ne a life without

ry period for the pu

ad come

r weak. She immediately filed the off

she saw the clean, loving home Deana had created for Leo. She saw the adoration i

Deana held Leo tight, her hea

kind eyes, reviewed the

tle man has alread

avel. The sound

tion is a

ugged Leo, burying her face in his soft

icate for him. Father: Unk

ica was happy for her, but Deana could hear the worry in her

a wasn't

yellow nursery. She kissed his forehead, his sc

ce thick with emotion. "It's