“I’ve Been A NICU Nurse For Thirteen Years, And I Almost Judged A Giant Tattooed Biker By His Hands. He Asked To Hold The Baby Nobody Had Come To Visit, And Sat In The Same Chair For Twelve Hours. Then A Nurse Noticed The Small, Faded Tattoo On His Wrist: A Name, And A Date.”

fed, changed, and sleeping against that broad chest, Marcus looked up and caught me watching. He didn’t look embarrassed. “His name was Dylan.” I sat in the chair next to him, the one families used. “He was five weeks early. Back in 2015. Hospital about three hours east of here. There wasn’t a program like this one back then. No volunteers. His mama continue reading …