Prologue
1975
In a hospital room somewhere in the City of New York, a baby, having just entered the world, wails loudly for the comfort of his mother. Exhausted, his mother collapses back onto her compressed hospital pillow eagerly waiting to hold her son. His eyes are soft puffy slits barely open to the early morning light pouring through the windows, and his fist automatically finds its way to his mouth as he seeks familiarity in this strange, sharp new world. With her son cleaned and swaddled in a crisp blue blanket, snuggling against her chest, the two drift off into a well deserved slumber…
"…how can we?" the mother of the infant beseeches of her husband.
"Because," he answers forlornly, "you know they're never wrong. And because this might be the only way to save innocent people…to save him."
Both parents turn their sorrowful eyes to the day old infant as he gurgles contently in his mother's arms.
"We will have to lie. One of the biggest we've ever told." The mother sniffles, never shifting her gaze, memorizing every inch of her son's face.
"I know but…we knew this was coming." Her husband reminds somberly.
"Yes…we did." she whispers. "But that doesn't make it any easier, does it?"
Her husband does not respond, knowing the answer is evident. He moves to join his wife and child, on the way looking down at a file of papers next to the bed that require both parent's signatures. For a long time they stare adoringly…longingly… remorsefully at their child while a woman silently enters the room, waiting for just the right moment to interrupt.
"Excuse me but…well…it's time." The woman speaks apologetically, but with professionalism.
"Already?" The mother questions with surprise and reluctance.
A jagged knot forms in the pit of her stomach, one that blossoms out of the idea that in a few moments…with the flick of a pen…her son would no longer be her son.
Her husband signs first, then her, and it is done. The woman takes the baby into her arms along with the signed documents and leaves the husband and wife to console each other.
"Someday we will see him again. Someday Gabriel will know us." The husband offers empty assurances to his wife.
She smiles sadly but knowingly and speaks under her breath. "Yes, I believe we might."