I rest my hand on my daughter’s chest. Beneath my touch, her heartbeat jumps like a rabbit through wildflowers. “Can you feel love?” I ask. She giggles and presses her tiny palm over my heart. “I can’t feel yours, Mommy.” I cup her cheek and tell her to listen. She leans her ear against my sternum. I hold my breath, afraid she might not find it. The room seems to listen with her until she murmurs, “I hear it.” I ask what it’s saying. She holds still, her lips parting slightly. I whisper that every beat repeats the same words.
I love you.
She doesn’t answer for a moment. Then she nods, leans closer, and squeezes me tight. “I hear it,” she says again.
I close my eyes, memorizing the sound.
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Wolverine Lily 