It has been a few days since I finally came to understand that I had been reborn. It was hard to assimilate it at first, but after a while, I managed to accept it. A new opportunity to start from scratch, that's what I kept telling myself to keep me sane.
***
The days have passed and I have spent a lot of time observing everything around me. The house I live in is built of wood, with a classic design that looks like something out of an ancient era. Every corner is full of details, from the sturdy beams on the ceiling to the fine finishes on the walls.
Three people live here, a beautiful young woman, a gentleman and a maid. From the first moment, it was clear that the young woman was my mother. Her loving treatment of me, the way she held and cared for me, left no room for doubt. Her gentle caresses reflected an unconditional affection that only a mother could offer.
However, it took me a little longer to understand that this man was also my father. At first, I thought he might be an uncle or even a servant.
But no.
ow did I uHnderstand? Well, it all started one night while I was in my crib, located in the center of my room, the place where I spent most of my time. The atmosphere was quiet. The sound of insects and night birds floated in the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere that used to help me sleep.
However, that calm was suddenly broken by a noise. I was awakened by a woman's screams coming from the next room. My first thought was one of concern: something must be happening, perhaps to my mother or perhaps to the maid.
As I became more awake, I sharpened my hearing, and realized that the voice was clearly that of my mother. That puzzled me.
What could be happening, I thought.
Then, as I listened more carefully, I realized that these were not cries of fear or pain. They were moans of pleasure.
Who was she doing it with? That was my next question. The answer was clear: the only adult in this house was that gentleman. Finally, I understood completely. They were a couple, although the idea made me uncomfortable at first, it was normal for them to be intimate in their home.
What really surprised me was the lack of modesty. If I had noticed what was going on, surely the maid would have noticed it too. This left me shocked and even embarrassed. I wondered how it was possible that they were not more reserved about these things, especially considering that they did not live alone.
Besides, there was something else that made me uneasy; this gentleman was twice her age. The fleeting thought that she might be there against her will crossed my mind.
Could she have been kidnapped or forced to be with him?
No, every time I saw them together, their looks didn't show hatred or contempt, but a genuine connection. There was tenderness in the small gestures, in the way they spoke to each other and looked at each other. Everything showed that there was no rancor or fear between them.
Could it really be love?
***
As the days have passed, I have begun to notice more details of my surroundings. The house I live in is large and cozy, with a beautiful fireplace that warms the main living room. The windows, large and decorated with delicate curtains, offer a spectacular view of a meadow that seems to be taken from some corner of Europe. I was deeply fascinated by that view. Every time I was taken to explore the house, I tried to look carefully. It is a landscape that conveys peace, with its immaculate greenery and vast horizon.
Several weeks passed and I began to notice an interesting pattern, during my morning walks, carried in my mother's arms. I could carefully observe everything going on around me.
Every morning, my father would leave early for work. Before leaving, he would say goodbye to my mother with a sweet morning kiss, sometimes exchanging affectionate gestures that sometimes seemed inappropriate.
In the evenings, he would return exhausted, with sweat pouring down his face, which always seemed strange to me, although I assumed it was due to the strain of his work.
Meanwhile, the attentive maid took care of all the household chores with care and dedication. She also offered her unconditional help to my mother in everything related to my needs. Although I must admit that the maid also possessed a remarkable beauty, which did not go unnoticed by anyone.
***
It has been seven months since my arrival, I have finally started to crawl. Even though I am not yet strong enough to stand up completely, I make the effort every chance I get. One day, as I was trying to stand up, Naára watched me with a surprised expression, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. I guess it's not common for a baby to hold on to a chair and try to get up so soon.
From that moment on, I became more cautious and monotonous, both for myself, and for everyone else, so as to avoid any trouble.
You're probably wondering how it's been all this time in terms of my eating. Well, it's been normal, but with one small problem. My mother, being so young, does not produce enough milk to breastfeed me. For this reason, I get most of my nutrients through a bottle that she provides me with.
Whenever he feeds me, I can sense something that goes beyond the simple act of feeding me. His face, although always adorned with a smile, reflects a deep sadness, an emotion that he tries to hide but cannot help but convey. It is as if, despite his efforts to show happiness, something inside him is not quite right. This situation affects me more than I would like to admit, I begin to feel an emotional connection to this place and the people around me.
The love and care I receive, especially from my mother, makes me feel really present. Maybe it's because I am her first child, or maybe it's because her love for me is so deep that she doesn't need words to express it.
***
Time goes by, I think I'm starting to understand some words now. At first, it all sounded like a mumble to me, but little by little, the sounds began to take shape. My new mission is to learn the language they use to communicate.
My parents are together every day, patiently helping me to pronounce the words they want to hear. It's funny, because it has become a kind of competition between them.
My mother tries to teach me to say "mama" and my father, with equal determination, tries to get me to say "dada". Learning to speak in this situation is not at all easy. My body still struggles to coordinate the vowels.
However, as the days go by, I feel that I am understanding better and better.
The first word I managed to pronounce was "mama". Upon hearing me, my mother was filled with indescribable joy. Her face shone with happiness, she applauded me enthusiastically, while she made playful jokes to my dad, as if she was boasting about my achievement.
After that moment, it was a few more weeks before I finally managed to stand up on my own. It was an amazing experience, almost as if a new world was opening up before me. At last, I could try to walk, explore and move freely without having to rely on screaming or crying for someone to come and help me.
***
Two years have passed since I said my first words and stood up. Now I am almost 3 years old. I can walk and talk properly. I am quite an independent and intelligent child at this young age. Not only I think so, but also my parents, who watch with pride my development of my abilities.
In this world, some people have both first and last names, while others have only one name. Those who lack both are often regarded as people without an existence, which unfortunately often deems them as slaves.
"It's too late to think about that," I said as I stood by the window. At that moment, I saw a strange animal in the garden. It looked like a rabbit on its back, but as I tried to get a better look at it, I noticed that it had a peculiar face: a beak.
The strangeness scared me so much that I fell out of my seat. My reaction, perhaps instinctively, was to cry.
My cry was so loud that my mother came quickly, her voice full of concern.
"Kaini, son, are you okay?" she said to me.
I could only keep crying because of the pain; really the fall had been hard because I hit my head. That's when my mother took me in her arms, snuggled me in her lap and whispered a few words to me.
I thought it was a funny thing that made me calm down and find comfort: seeing her so focused. Suddenly, an emerald light appeared around me and enveloped me, making my hair stand on end. The atmosphere became warm and I didn't realize that the pain was gone.
After that, I didn't know what to say. The first thing that came to my mind was:
Magic!