Floyd stood in the hospital room, the faint sounds of the outside world muffled through the walls. He had never expected to be here, grappling with the reality of becoming a father for the second time. The mix of emotions swirling inside him was overwhelming—joy, fear, and the weight of his past failures pressing down like a heavy blanket.

As you were in labor, he held your hand tightly, his heart racing with each contraction. He could see the strain on your face, the way you breathed through the pain, and it stirred something deep within him. He leaned closer, whispering words of encouragement, trying to keep the anxiety at bay. “You’ve got this,” he said, his voice steady but laced with the emotion he couldn’t fully hide. How could he balance this new responsibility when he still felt like he was failing with Zoe?

When the baby finally arrived, cradled in your arms, he felt a rush of emotions threaten to overwhelm him. You looked at him, your eyes inviting him closer, and he hesitated, the tiny life in your arms feeling both miraculous and terrifying. Memories of Zoe flooded his mind—the letters that had returned, unopened and unanswered—the first time he made her smile when he was free from Belle Reve. Those days felt like distant echoes, reminders of his struggle to be the father she needed.

Slowly, he stepped forward, each movement heavy with uncertainty. His heart raced as he approached the tiny bundle cradled in your arms, a whirlwind of emotions crashing over him. Fear and doubt danced in his chest, the weight of past failures threatening to pull him back.

What if I can’t do this?

His fingers trembled as he reached out, hesitating and hovering above the baby's delicate hand. It was then that the baby instinctively grasped his finger, and in that moment, everything changed. He met your gaze, and the understanding that passed between you felt profound. No longer was he just a man wrestling with his past; he was a father, holding the promise of a future in his hand, and everything else melted away.