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Tuesday - September 14

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The bright light hovering above Claire makes it difficult for her to focus. Starting to regain consciousness, Claire realizes that she's in some type of hospital. Terrified, she starts to lift herself up so that she can get a better view of her surroundings. All of a sudden, she feels a hand upon her forehead. A female voice tells her to lie down and be still. Feeling groggy, Claire blurts out, "What's happening? What's happening? My baby! Please don't hurt my baby!" as she begins to yell when she sees a man rolling a machine towards her. The voice again tells her to lie still and assures her that everything is all right.

The woman pulls up Claire's top, and her pants down, and then applies a clear jelly substance onto her stomach. Breathing heavily, Claire starts to resist, until a man starts to roll a handheld device onto the jelly substance. Unsure of what's happening, Claire continues to resist, yelling, "Get off of me!"

"Claire, dear, please, lie still. Look at the monitor and watch the miracle that is within you," says Gerald, as he consoles Claire by brushing his hand along her forehead.

Totally frightened, Claire looks at the monitor, not understanding what she sees. After a few seconds she realizes what it is.

"Oh, my God, is that what I think it is, Gerald?'" Claire asks, as she begins to cry tears of joy.

With his hands firmly caressing her shoulders, Gerald says, "Yes, my dear. There it is. What you've longed for has finally happened. Your little miracle baby dwells within you. Your miracle baby will save the world."

"Save the world? What do you mean, save the world?" as Claire gives Gerald a puzzling look.

"We will talk about that later, dear. But for now, would you like to know the sex of your baby?" Gerald asks, hoping that she does.

"I wish John were here. What is it?" she asks with great anticipation.

The man holding the device says, "Congratulations! You're having a boy."

"A boy! A boy!" Claire ecstatically blurts out, laughing, with tears in her eyes. "A boy! A boy!"

The woman takes a towel and cleans the jelly substance from Claire's stomach. The man hands Claire a photo of her baby. Claire embraces the photo to her breasts as if her baby were in her arms.

After the man and the woman finish with Claire, she hears voices off in the distance. Looking around, she notices all kinds of equipment and computers. The room she's in is just an alcove of the floor she's on. Continuing to hear the voices, she carefully gets off the table and begins to look for them.

With her precious photo in her hand, Claire cautiously leaves the alcove and begins to walk further into the vast room. Walking softly, and looking over her shoulder, she hears the voices becoming more prevalent. She begins to pick up her pace, but stops when she sees a group of people conversing. Standing still so she won't be noticed, someone turns around and says, "Look, everyone! Look who's here! It's our little mother, Claire!"

Claire looks at the people, and then totally surprised, she notices two people she knows extremely well. Two people who meant the world to her; two people that left her behind seven years ago. In total disbelief, Claire softly expels, "Mom? Dad? Is that really you? Mom? Dad?" Claire slowly walks towards them, but can't believe her eyes. Seeing her parents are alive and well, Claire throws herself into their arms and begins to weep. They caress each other with tremendous passion, as if it was the first time they have ever seen each other. The group watches with tears as they witness the joyous reunion.

Claire releases herself from their affectionate embrace. The three of them hold each others hand, smiling, and giggling with tears streaming down their faces. Claire tries to say, "Why?", but is choked with emotion. She repeats her question, but directs it only to her mother, "Mom, why?"