The sky's tears kissing the land on a summer day was an unexpected guess. Doctors and nurses in the hospital hardly noticed the rain drumming against the windows as they flowed precisely back and forth amid the chaos.
Quinn Jackson hurried forward as a nurse with a medical file clenched in her hands. Their next step was to go to the delivery room. The Cinnamon City Hospital buzzed when the owner, Luke Jackson was expecting his third grandchild.
Quinn observed the report her nurse passed. She rubbed her brows and muttered, "Oh no…no…it can be!"
She shouted, "Emergency C-section! Prepare the patient!"
She rushed out to find the nurse and said urgently, "Clara, please call Dr Matthew. Urged him to come now!"
The moment after, an echo of hurried footsteps drawing closer filled the air—it was Lilian's husband, Matthew Jackson. Having come from another building, he appeared, still wearing the composed yet focused expression of a man on duty.
As a doctor working in a separate department that evening, he had made his way over with evident urgency. The delivery room door swung open as Quinn stepped out with a serious expression.
She called her brother, "Matt, follow me, hurried!"
She rushed back inside as Matthew tailed behind. On their way to the operating room, Quinn explained to Matthew.
"The baby's condition is critical, Matt. The umbilical cord was tangled around her neck, and the heartbeat was irregular. Lilian was moved to the OR soon after I found the baby's condition. Preparation nearly completed. I need your assistance. We'll do the surgery together," she ended her sentence in one fast breath.
Outside the operating room, the Rogerson family waited and barely calmed themselves after the nurse informed them of the situation.
Mathias Jackson arrived with his parents. Usually, he was on duty as an attending doctor at the hospital. However, Mathias and Luke, had been attending today's event at the medical school.
Luke Jackson, the hospital owner was a distinguished medical professional. He was frequently invited as an honorary guest to various conferences. Mathias, the eldest son and hospital director, attended the same event. They rushed back to the hospital as soon as they heard the news.
After two hours of surgery, Quinn emerged from the operating room. She was struck with silence when she faced her family in an uneasy state.
"Lili safely gave birth to a baby girl, and her condition is stable. Matt is with her now. But the baby..."
Sensed her daughter was silent, Marina felt uneasy. She asked, "How is my granddaughter, Quinn?"
Quinn felt pressure but she must tell the truth. It was her duty. She said, "Her condition is critical because her breathing is severely compromised. The baby now depends entirely on a ventilator, and she cannot survive without it. We need to prepare ourselves. The baby… let's cherish the last moment with the baby."
"A last moment? What do you mean about that?" her mother questioned, but Quinn was silent. Her eyes down cast. She asked them to follow her.
"No, it can't be," serial thought left Marina's mind, her eyes clouded with tears.
Despite every effort, the doctors couldn't save the baby. Even though the Jackson came from a family of medical professionals, they were overcome with helplessness. The fact stabbed Quinn the most. Years in this professionalism, her niece was the one she couldn't save.
The hospital ward was consumed with overwhelming sorrow. Through the glass window, they saw a newborn surrounded by special medical equipment and wire wrapped around her tiny body.
Matthew had arrived as well. His misty eyes gazed at his baby girl, knowing there was only a moment left before she bid farewell.
"She had just greeted the world yet had to say goodbye," Matthew said, his voice trembling. Adam patted Matthew's shoulder. Every patted to comfort his son-in-law as if he tried to comfort himself.
"Lili unconscious. She still not knowing…even I don't know how to break the news to her," Matthew told them. His words made everyone silent for a moment. This was not what they expected.
Suddenly, Oleander stirred the air, "Logan, Lydia, I have to go somewhere."
"I will accompany you, Mom," Logan suggested, but Oleander refused immediately. And she left them. Her steps were hurried.
Oleander knew hope lingered quietly, like an unspoken promise. In the emotion, the baby's grandmother, Oleander Nyx, was struck by a vivid memory. Years before she married, she was a young researcher who loved to venture, searching for medicinal herbs.
A memory flashed back when she was in the wood.
She became separated from her group and wandered alone for hours. Fate has brought her stumbled upon a wolf trapped under a poacher's snare.
She was starlet because the wolf was unlike any other. Its snow-white fur glimmering with a crescent shape on its forehead, and its golden eyes reflected pain and desperation.
She moved close and studied the trapped wolf before successfully freeing it. Once more, she was hit by the realisation. It was a rare three-tailed wolf. She gasped and took steps back, inches away from the creature, before promptly turning around and forced herself steps to run. The wolf chased and jumped before her.
As a result, Oleander stumbled and fell to the ground. The wolf moved around Oleander, who was terrified. The wolf moved close as she faced Oleander.
"Human!" the voice made Oleander flinched.
In a trembling voice, Oleander begged, "Please, don't harm me. I just saved you!"
"Looks into my eyes," Oleander heard, and slowly she raised her head. Their eyes locked.
Strangely, Oleander felt calmed. Her breath became steady. She plucked her courage and asked, "W…who are you?"
"Kanar, the forest god," the wolf said. Oleander utterly shocked and repeatedly said, "Kanar, the forest god… oh my goodness. Please tell me I am dreaming,"
"You saved my life," the voice said. "I will grant you one wish…When the time comes, call upon me and pray in the name of Kanar, the forest god."
And just like that, the wolf disappeared, replaced by the distant voices calling her name. She safely found her way out of the forest and carried this strange but powerful memory.
ꜟꜟꜟꜝꜝ˚˚ꜛꜜꜛꜜꜛꜜꜛꜛꜜꜛꜜꜛꜜꜛ˚˚ꜝꜝꜟꜟꜟ
Back in the hospital, Oleander kneeled alone in the hospital ward, not far away from everyone. She knew it was time to claim the promise that Kanar granted her.
With a trembling voice of hope, she began to whisper her prayer, "Dear Kanar, the forest god. Help me, turn my poor grandchild's fate."
After she prayed, the room fell silent for long. Kanar did not answer.
"Oh, I am a fool!" Oleander struggled to hold back her tears. She cried hopelessly. Was she so stupid enough to place her trust in something absurd.
"Mom!" Logan was shocked to find his mother sobbing alone. Consumed with sadness,
Oleander heard her son's voice, but she didn't have a courage to respond. Logan knelt and hugged her mother to calm her.
Logan said, "Mom, let's go to see the baby. She… she is fine. Quinn said she was fine."
Confused, Oleander asked, "What Quinn said?"
"Yes, the baby is fine now. Let's go see her," Logan said with a smile. He assisted his mother stood up, and jogged through the corridor.
Oleander heard a sound that made her gasp—a tiny, clear cry. The newborn, thought to be lost, was breathing once more. Tears streaming down her face, Oleander whispered, "Thank you, Lord. Thank you for helping."
The baby was completely healthy. Gathering with the family, Oleander did not dare share her extraordinary prayer and the miracle that had unfolded, afraid they would not believe her.
Filled with gratitude, the Jackson and Rogerson families embraced this blessing.
After a few days at the hospital, Lilian and the baby were allowed to return to their house.
The maids and the twins greeted their arrival joyfully and laced with the twin's excited voice.
"Mommy, mommy, I want to hug the baby."
"Mommy, why baby always sleeping?"
"Wow, my sister is so cute."
"I want to play with my sister."
The twins' voice chatted endlessly and filled the room lace with the warmth of excitement.
"Alright…Alright…baby needs enough sleep, and mommy needs a rest. Let's play outside and come back after a while. How about that?" Matthew said as he gently suggested to the twins.
"Daddy, daddy, what's the baby's name? Is it going to start with the letter 'A' like ours?" one of them asked curiously, their tiny voices filled with anticipation.
Matthew bent his knees, squatted and faced the twins. He lovingly held their hand and said, "If her name was a little different from yours, is that okay?"
Amelia answered immediately, "It is okay as long as her name is as beautiful as hers." Her twin, Aiden agreed with her answer and nodded vigorously.
"If that's so... your mother and I have decided. We will call her Tylia. What did you think?"
"Wow, it is a lovely name," Amelia said delightfully. Her brother also responded the same way. They jumped with joy as everyone in that household's mood lit up, mirroring their happiness.