Late in the evening, after the visitors had left and the hospital corridors had grown quiet, Brandon slipped into the private recovery room.
The lights were dimmed, casting a soft, warm glow over the space.
Marzella was lying propped up against several pillows.
In her arms, she cradled the newborn baby boy, who was sleeping peacefully against her chest.
When she saw Brandon enter, her eyes lit up with quiet joy.
She smiled softly, shifting slightly to make room as he approached the bed.
"You came," she whispered.
Brandon sat down on the edge of the bed, his gaze moving from her face to the tiny baby in her arms.
For a long moment, he simply looked at the child with an unreadable expression.
Marzella reached out with her free hand and gently took his.
"I wanted to tell you in private," she said softly. "I named him Brandon."
He looked up at her in surprise "Brandon…"
Marzella nodded, a gentle smile on her lips as she looked down at the sleeping baby.
