"Please. Please cry. Please."
Bai Yue's voice cracked on the last word, dissolving into a desperate whisper as she stared down at the tiny bundle in her arms.
Zhēn didn't move.
Her little chest remained still. Her eyes stayed closed. Her perfect, tiny face was peaceful, too peaceful. It made Bai Yue's chest constrict.
"No," she breathed. "No, no, no, no, no."
She pressed her ear against her chest, listening for anything, a heartbeat, a breath, a tiny gurgle of life.
Nothing.
"WAKE UP!" she screamed, her voice shattering the heavy silence of the hut. "WAKE UP, ZHĒN! PLEASE!"
Tears were streaming down her face now, hot and uncontrollable, dripping onto the baby's still face. She held her tighter, rocking her desperately, as if sheer force of will could jump-start her tiny heart.
"Please, baby. Please. Mama's here. Mama's right here. You have to wake up. You have to. Your brothers are waiting for you. Your fathers are waiting. Please. PLEASE."
