Before You Read

"Hey, baby girl," I coo at Allie.

She smiles even wider.

"Aren't you a special baby girl?" I say when she smiles and grips onto my shirt. "Yes, I think you are."

She takes both of her pale, tiny, hands and grabs on to the sleeve of my shirt with a death grip. I can see her little knuckles going even whiter from the effort.

"My pretty baby girl," I whisper.

She smiles at me again and to my amazement, giggles. She actually laughs. Sure, just a little baby sound, but what does it matter? She laughed. And I caused it.

"Allie, my baby girl," I coo tenderly. "You are a special thing."

___

NEW VERSION