By Jennifer Hartline, The Stream - There was a beautiful, flickering little heartbeat. A miracle in the making, hidden away in darkness, yet flashing right there on the screen. Here I am! I’m alive! It’s useless to tell yourself you won’t get your hopes up… There’s no such thing as protecting yourself from the pain of potential loss. That isn’t how love works. Love means you open yourself up not just to the wonder, but also to the wound, and accept it if it comes.