He walked into the hospital and imediately smelled it. That hospital smell. He hated that smell. He was at a meeting at work when he got the call.

He found the room. Standing outside, he took a deep breath. It was time to meet his baby sister for the first time.

“Hi”
“Oh hi! We’re so glad you’re here.” His parents looked exhausted, but so happy. They couldn’t stop smiling. And he knew they wanted him there with them. “Do you want to hold her?”

“Sure,” he said coming down to sit down next to his dad. “What’s her name?”

“We’re not sure yet, any ideas?”

He looked into his sister’s eyes. They were a bright blue, and full of wonder. Usually, he didn’t understand why people made such a big deal about babies. But it was different today. He wondered what she would be like, what she would do with her life. He hoped she be loving, confident, invincible. He hoped she would be full of spirit, happy. There were so many possibilities right now. There was hope.

“Hope. I think her name should be Hope.”