I Lost My Newborn Twins — Five Years Later, I Saw Them at a Daycare

Both of them.

The same night.

« A rare twin event, » Dr. Halvorsen said, not meeting my eyes.

I remember reaching for my chest, for the locket, out of some animal instinct to hold the one thing that was my mother’s, and finding my throat bare, and Danielle saying, softly, « It went missing during surgery, honey, I filed a report, » and squeezing my hand, and I remember thinking, through the fog, thank God she’s here.

Thank God she’s here.

I didn’t even make it to their fun*ral.

My husband, Terrence, told me he had « handled it » while I was sedated — a small service, a crem*tion, done quietly, so I wouldn’t have to.

He said it like a gift.

I never saw a certificate.

I never saw an u*rn.