He talked about nightmares that tore him awake, replaying the delivery room in slow motion, avoiding skin-to-skin contact because he feared his anxiety would reach her. “I don’t want her to feel my fear,” he said. “I’ll keep my distance until I can be the father she deserves.”
“Have you thought about including Julia?” the group leader asked.
He shook his head. “She almost died. She doesn’t need to carry me, too.”
I drove home quickly, slid back into bed before he returned, and listened to Lily’s soft breathing. The next morning, while he was at work and she napped, I called the center. “My husband’s been attending your group,” I said. “Is there something for partners?” There was—a Wednesday night circle.
Continue reading…