The New Year MIRACLE

Ever since I can remember, I’d always wanted children. When I was really small, I used to practise my ‘mothering skills’ with my favourite doll, Holly.

Then, as I grew older, I realised how much I really loved looking after people of all ages. So I trained as a nurse in London, loving my work and embracing the after-hours social life. I was never short of dates – I even had two proposals as the years went by. But no one ever felt… right.

Then, one December, I offered to do the late shift on the children’s ward so staff with families could stay at home. Afterwards, I went down to the canteen with its silver ‘Happy New Year’ banner.

I grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down wearily, finding myself opposite my new manager, Graham.

‘You look shattered,’ he said, giving me a sympathetic smile.

Somehow we started to chat – and didn’t stop. After several hours, I almost forgot how tired I was. ‘I wonder,’ he said, as we