Friendships shift, boundaries sharpen, and the world rearranges itself around you.

T he delivery may be over, but the real labor has just begun The Quiet Room The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the monitor and the rhythmic squeak of the bassinet wheels. The nurse smiled as she handed me my baby, wrapped tight, perfect, sleeping. I should have felt the cinematic wave of joy they talk about. Instead, I felt something else entirely: hollow. My body trembled. My gown stuck to my skin. My mind looped between disbelief and dread... it’s over, but I’m s