Celeste
Jane.
I hold you in my arms and rock you gently. I marvel at your beauty. You are so delicate, yet I already feel the power radiating out of you. I look at your big, green eyes. Your mother's eyes. You look at me and it's like you already know that your dad will need a lot of patience and tenderness. You look at me and I feel like you can touch my soul, the same feeling I have when your mom looks at me. I already feel you'll be strong and generous, like your mom. One day, you will become a wonderful woman, you will probably own a gun or two, just like your mom. It's ok, I will teach you some of my best tricks, you never know when they might be useful.
You smile at me and wrinkle your nose and I lose the last piece of sanity I have in me. I can't believe that we made you, your mom and I. I can't believe I am a dad again. I always thought that falling in love again was already more than everything I could ever hope for, but you are here now, and I know you were the missing piece to your mom's happiness, thus my happiness.
One day I will tell you everything about your little sister and her mother. I will tell you how I lost them, and how I thought that was the end of my life. I will tell you how your mom took me by the hand, never letting it go, gently helping me to find a new reason to live. I will tell you how she saved my life.
You move your little hands and I take one in my hand. They are so tiny. I look at you and I try to memorize every single detail of your face, your soft hair. My memory palace has a new room just for you. I look at your mom who's peacefully sleeping right now, and how can I express how grateful I am, that she brought you into the world, to me. Your house is ready, your room is waiting for you. Everything is ready, and I can't wait to begin our life together.
I will do my best to be a better dad, to be a better person. I've been selfish and greedy, and I took my family for granted. I won't make the same mistake again. You and your mom are not for granted, and I will live every day knowing that.
You were sent to me from above, I am sure.
Celeste.