monochrome

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Sophie, one day old

Thankfully, I don't often visit a hospital. This photo was taken on one instance in which I was happy to.

I hadn't before had the opportunity to visit a friend in the hospital just after the birth of their child. I got lucky here. Simone had given birth on a Friday, and the next day I went to the upper east side hospital she was in to visit. Her husband was exhausted; she had sent him home the night before to rest up, but he was excited and thrilled. They were expecting a number of people, but I arrived early enough to spend some quiet time before the deluge. I remember seeing David's sister; Simone's mother was beaming.

I don't remember what we talked about. The room was dim and hushed. Simone said laughing was painful. After 34 hours of labor she had opted to have a Cesarean section.

When I left the hospital, the day was bright. I think I went to a museum. I carried the reverent hush of the room with me. The world seemed changed. For my friends it had irrevocably.