Thana didn’t go home. With less than a day to live, Ella insisted they spend it together. Thana couldn’t deny a dying woman’s wish, even if she wanted to.

They went to Ella’s apartment and talked for hours. Ella told her all her wishes for her baby and Thana promised to pass them on.

Thana felt like she’d gotten a second chance to know her mother. She pictured her fondly rubbing her belly, awaiting Thana’s birth. Maybe a tear sliding down her cheek, knowing she’d be leaving her child all alone in the world.

They talked well into the night. Thana woke up the next morning without realizing she’d fallen asleep. They talked some more over coffee (decaf for Ella) and scrambled eggs on toast.

A dying woman and the daughter of her child’s father. The thought was so bittersweet Thana almost laughed. Out of all the expectant mothers, she’d found Ella. Now, she could help Ella’s child know the truth.

Thana was washing their dishes when someone knocked on Ella’s door. The door opened a moment later and a woman who looked almost exactly like Ella walked in. “Elle, do you realize what time it is?”

Without thinking, Thana looked at the timer above Ella’s head. She saw Ella look at her, since she couldn’t see the numbers herself. 1:32:16. Ella was almost out of time. Which also meant her baby was close. “The hospital.”

The new woman looked at Thana and scoffed. “Who are you?”

“Thana.” Ella said quickly. “She’s from adoption services.”

While not entirely true, the woman’s reaction made it worth the lie. “Adoption, don’t be silly. You’re always saying how much you want your baby.” She scoffed again. “And if anything did happen, we’d take care of it.”

“Maggie…” Ella looked between Thana and the woman. “I… I think…” She cut herself off with a sharp intake of breath and hunched over. “Now!”

Maggie lunged forward to help Ella. Thana followed them out the door, grabbing the bag Ella had pointed out the night before.

Maggie drove to the hospital and took care of admissions. When Ella was in a bed, breathing through her contractions, Maggie went to call the rest of their family.

“Paper.” Ella breathed. “I want an official release.” She met Thana’s eyes. “I want you to have custody, not my sister. She’d never understand.”

Thana bit her lip. “Okay.” She left to find a nurse to help with the paperwork. When she returned, form in hand, Ella was in labour.

Despite her profession, Thana didn’t like childbirth. It always reminded her of her mother’s death, even now, after all she’d learned. She looked away until Ella stopped screaming and the doctors stepped away with the baby.

“Here.” She said, handing the form to Ella. She didn’t want to look, but she did anyway. Ella had 30 minutes to live.

“They said it’s a girl.” Ella said as she signed the paper. “Delilah.” She beamed up at Thana. “You have a sister.”

At once, Amy’s prophecy came back to Thana. She’d been so wrapped up in Ella’s story, she’d completely forgotten about it. She looked past the doctors at Delilah, afraid of what she’d find.

Tears spilled from her eyes. “9:13.” She sobbed.

Ella’s face paled. “I only have nine minutes?”

Thana looked back at her. She shook her head. “She does.”

“No.” Ella craned her neck, trying to see her daughter. “No, she can’t die.” But she saw what was happening.

The doctors were struggling to help her breathe. The time ticked away and, at one minute, they all shook their heads.

“No!” Ella screamed and her body shook.

“The second one’s coming.” A nurse called.

Second? Thana looked at Ella, but she was just as confused. Twins?

“He’ll live.” Thana whispered quickly. She knelt down and took Ella’s hand. Her time was ticking away. “You’re going to have a son and he’s going to be healthy.”

Ella was still crying, but she pushed with all her might. “Daniel.” She said. “His name’s Daniel.”

Daniel was healthy. He started crying a few seconds after birth. The nurses cleaned him and wrapped him in a baby blue blanket. They handed him to Ella and she cried.

As the minutes ticked away, Thana watched Ella’s face grow paler and paler. She must have felt her life slipping away, because she looked up at Thana and smiled. “Look after your brother.” She whispered.