6 months later
Andriy
I gaze at the tiny, wrinkled face of my son and can't believe he’s actually in my arms. He’s so tiny. Completely miniature. But his gaze, on the other hand, is intense, as if he understands who's looking at him.
" He’s a miracle, isn’t he? " Milana approaches from the side and peers into the tiny bundle I hold in my arms.
I throw a brief glance at my girl. Only a few days have passed since her birth, but she seems to radiate some inner glow. I enjoy this sight every time I look at her, and a profound and bright feeling firmly roots inside me, "love. Now in my life, there are two more people who give me this feeling and fill it with joy..
" Both of you are miracles," I say tenderly from emotions that suddenly surge.
I never thought I could be this happy… until I met her. And when I held my son, I was even more convinced. This feeling expanded a hundredfold.
Suddenly, the little one begins to whine, and I slightly panic. It’s still hard for me to distinguish all his types of crying.
" Honey, give him here. Mykhailo is hungry," she examines the baby’s face and smiles happily.
I pass our little one into her arms and with some quiet euphoria, I watch as Milana sits down with the babe in her arms on the soft sofa, unbuttons her blouse, and frees the swollen milk-filled hemisphere, and as my son tries to find the nipple. Finally, after a bit of struggle, he manages and with devout calmness, he smacks his small lips, sucking in the mother's milk. I absorb these sacred moments, and I revel in quiet happiness.
My son and my wife... I savor these words in my thoughts.
Just a few months ago, when we resolved all of our misunderstandings and opened up all secrets, I proposed to the woman I love to marry me. Naturally. Everything was simple and clear for me. I wanted this woman beside me, wanted to be a part of her life, and wanted to see my child being born and growing up, so everything came together like a puzzle. After all the turns of events, I was afraid she would refuse, that she wouldn’t forgive.
But this incredible woman understood my motivations and gave me a chance. For which I am endlessly grateful and ready to lay down my entire life so she would never regret her choice.
So then I wanted to create for her the most beautiful and grand wedding. I wanted to please her with all those wedding knick-knacks like the cake, a lavish dress, music, and hundreds of guests, but the little one wanted none of it.
Instead, she chose a simple registration where only we were present, our parents, witnesses, Dmytro, and her friend Tanya. The celebration was warm and family-oriented, giving me so many joyful emotions that I still relish and enjoy them. It couldn’t have been better. Indeed, our day was truly ours.
Nadya didn’t come to the registration. And though I’m no longer angry with her, she still feels too ashamed to look me in the eye. Lukash told me this when he got probation and moved to Warsaw. For her. He said he tried to fight his feelings for a long time, but it was beyond him, and now he wants to try everything openly and without secrets.
I sigh. As much as I am angry at my friend, I can understand. Love," it’s like that. You don’t choose who to love or not. When feelings appear, you involuntarily fall into this captivity and initially naively hope that you can control at least something. But it’s an illusion. In reality, the feelings take over, and all you can do is enjoy them if you have the courage to accept them.
Again, my thoughts return to my sister. Milana firmly believes that this will all pass. It just takes time, and we will mend our relationship. I hope so too. I blink and emerge from my thoughts.
The baby finishes his meal. His little eyes closed. I chuckle to myself. A real boy eats and immediately snoozes. My beloved rises and moves our son into the cradle. I approached her. Wrap her in my embrace and inhale her special scent with a hint of jasmine. I look at her and my son, who sleeps peacefully in the cradle, and understand that this is the most precious thing I could have gained in life. I run my nose along her temple and whisper into her ear:
" Thank you…
" For what? " she lifts her head up and blinks with a puzzled look.
" For everything. For love, for our son, for understanding… I adore you.
Her lips stretch into a happy smile, and I can’t resist but nuzzle her again. I leave a quick kiss. She purrs quietly from my caresses, then turns her head and likewise quietly whispers into my lips:
" And I love you, Andriy.