POV: Daniel 

The night was full around us, deep and heavy as if the new world itself had decided that it preferred to be swallowed by darkness all at once rather than bleed into it over the slow turn of light. Clara lay asleep next to me, her head on my shoulder and her breath warm on my ribs. The child slept in the bend of her arms, its light dimmed to a gentle pulse that finally gave the appearance of rest.

The world held steady, and for a heartbeat it seemed to nod in ...