Zack Atkinson's eyes slowly opened to an inky blackness. Groggily, he muttered, "Where am I?" He surveyed his surroundings, but what greeted him was an endless void, devoid of sensation. He couldn't feel his body, nor hear his voice. The only thing reminding him he was still alive, somehow, was the constant hum of his thoughts.
"Cogito, ergo sum."
I think, therefore I am.
He repeated the phrase like a mantra, fearing he would cease to exist if he stopped thinking. As he nervously surveyed the surroundings once again, memories flooded back like a tide crashing against the shore.
"Ah, I see."
A child, no more than six, wandering into the street; the oncoming car; his instinctive lunge to save the child, trading his own life. A faint smile crept onto his face. "I wonder if that kid's alright... At least I did something worth dying for."
Reflecting on his life, he felt a sense of acceptance. As the sole heir to the wealthy Atkinson family, his father's expectations had always been suffocating, a heavy weight upon his shoulders. His mother, a university professor, had been his rock, but his father's disappointment still stung like a bitter wound.
I'll never measure up to that old man, Zack thought, resentment lingering in the corners of his mind.
As he drifted in the darkness, questions arose: Will anyone remember me?
I hope my mother's alright too, leaving her with that man, he mused, a twinge of worry gnawing at him.
The silence was oppressive, yet Zack felt an odd sense of peace. His final act had given his life meaning.
Suddenly, a faint glow appeared in the distance, pulsating like a heartbeat. It felt like it was calling to him, drawing him in with an irresistible pull. Unsure of what to do, panic surged through him as he was sucked into the light.
"Damn it! What's happening?" he shouted, but still, no voice was heard.
As Zack entered the light, a soothing voice enveloped him.
"Push, dear, you're almost there... Just one more."
The voice was gentle yet firm, guiding the woman through the birthing process. Zack felt himself being drawn toward the sound, his consciousness fading like mist in the morning sun.
Zack was struck with an idea, Am I being reborn?
So that light was actually…
He was left speechless with the realization, even though he couldn't speak at the moment.
The woman's womb contracted, and Zack felt a surge of pain.
Shit, no wonder why babies cry during labor, he thought, half-complaining. Being barely conscious doesn't help at all.
He endured not to cry; it felt embarrassing.
"It's time," the voice announced, excitement and relief mingling in her tone.
With one final push, Zack emerged into the world, his new life beginning.
The voice cheered, "You did it, Alicia! You have a beautiful baby boy!"
As Zack slowly fell unconscious, he heard the voice again.
"Welcome, little one," the voice whispered, as if addressing him directly. "You're safe now."
Alicia's POV
Alicia's panic set in as she gazed at her newborn. "Why isn't my baby crying?"
Susan, the midwife, reassured her, "Don't worry, Alicia. He's fine."
But Susan's expression hinted at concern. I've assisted births in this village for over a decade, and this is the first time I've seen a newborn so quiet.
She gently smacked the baby's bottom. Zack, still disoriented, yelped in surprise at the sudden pain.
"Ah, there we go," Susan said, relief washing over her. The baby wailed, filling the room with sound.
Alicia soothed her crying child, cradling him close. "My poor baby."
Victor, Alicia's partner, burst into the hut, his auburn hair catching the light. "Alicia, are you okay?! Where's our child?!"
Alicia gazed at Victor as he entered the room, his chiselled face filled with a mix of worry and excitement. "Calm down," she said. "We're fine, Victor. Look, our son is handsome, just like you."
Victor beamed, reaching for the baby. "My boy, Alex!"
Alicia playfully swatted his hand away. "Give me some time with Alex first."
She recalled their bet: if a boy, Alex; if a girl, Victoria.
Susan watched, warm-hearted. "A beautiful family. I'll leave you to bond."
As Susan departed, Alicia whispered to Victor, "You know, I think Alex is special."
Victor's eyebrows rose. "What do you mean?"
Alicia hesitated, unsure how to express her feelings. "I sense something extraordinary in him."