Prologue
I remained with my eyes fixed on the road. We were just coming back home.
Finally. Just some time of peace after this vacation. In fact we didn't look like we spent a good period or a beautiful holiday.
I looked at the seat on my right: my wife, Jodie, was staring at the autumn field out of the window, around us; her eyes were dull and empty and the setting sun was glistening her tears, held by her ebony eyes. The didn't want to get off.
She noticed my gaze but said nothing…
She felt so horrible knowing to be a carrier of that plague, her disease. It hurts just the thought of what might… No! I didn't want to think about it.
Meanwhile, I noticed the traffic was becoming more intense.
Jodie sighed loudly.
- What's going on? - I asked.
- It's all right, Harry - she whispered to me with a faint voice.
Poor thing.
But I was just worried about here. She was everything I had and I had to protect her as the most precious treasures. At first I thought that a little "break" would be good during this hard time, that would make her smile again, but obviously I was wrong. Since she knew from the doctor that she would be unable to have a child because of her illness, I never saw her smile. She had been so hopeless…
My heath twitched at the terrible news.
The man suggested us an adoption, but we probably didn't have enough money to take away a child from an orphanage.
She desiderated so hard a baby…
I usually heard her at night, when she prayed the Lord for relief and pure joy, her desire to be a mother. Also she would pray for me…
It was one thing that often made me stay awake all night: guilt. If only I could give her more!
Jodie, I'll always be with you, in sickness and in health, till death do us apart. It seemed something so stupid when we said so before the altar, not many years ago, and now…
She coughed violently. I looked at her, right in her dark eyes. She pleading asked me to stop the car somewhere because she needed to get some fresh. I pulled over and got out of the car, on the hard asphalt highway. I was by her side, as her walked on a field of dry leaves that crouched softly under our feet, away from the road.
Jodie took a deep breath:
- Thank you, Harry, What would I do without you, love? The way you take care of me… well…
She shyly turned her look toward the horizon and the sun, almost gone to still hide her tears.
I didn't keep quiet:
- Look, how about a walk around here? - I said - C'mon.
I didn't want to make feel her a different girl or an obstacle for my life and freedom. I took her by the hand and walked toward an old dead bunch of trees, completely dry; their branches formed really strange designs. She looked at me as she took off the pink sweater she was wearing, to tying it on the hips.
- Wait there - I said pointing to the old trees - I'll be back soon… with a present for you.
She nodded and I walked away to a small patch of daisies and other pretty flowers: I would have make a small wreath of flowers for her, like the ones my mother taught me when I was a little boy. It took me a few minutes… and it would be ready if a scream hadn't dropped the little gift from my hands.
- Harry! Hurry! Harry, there is something there… !
I rushed to Jodie. She was screaming, with a hand on her chest, heavy breath and eyes wide open. She was staring at a moving pile of dirty blankets on the ground.
What… ?! Moving?
- Check it, Harry! I think I just hear it "groans" - she said - … I was scared and I…
"Me too" I thought, but she was right: that thing was subtly moving! Anyway, it was not the time to be coward.
I bent down an carefully picked it up: it contained something soft, small, harmless, warm and… crying? I ran a half-smile and pulled back the edge of the grey blanket that hid… the sweetest little face I've ever seen in my entire life. As soon as my eyes met the other ones, the cry stopped.
Jodie stepped forward, disbelief:
- I cannot believe it, Harry! It's a baby! - she exclaimed.
- It's been abandoned here? The mother will be nearby!
I unwillingly gave the baby to Jodie: having that sweet and harmless newborn so close to my heart brought me new and incredible feelings. I was sure that would have been the same for Jodie, who started cuddling the infant. I walk away from them and tried to notice someone, even though the sun-light was slowly going away. I thought I see the hem of a dress behind a dry bush, maybe just an impression.
Nothing important. We were alone, so I ran back to my wife.
- It' s a girl - Jodie said as I returned - And it's beautiful…
- There's no one here; whoever left her will already be far away. How can someone leave a baby alone like this? - I replied while looking at the cute little girl.
Jodie looked at me and I returned. Finally, after a long time, I saw her smile… the radiant and wonderful smile of the woman I was in love.
I smiled too: I had it all figured out and I was excited; the woman hugged tightly the baby over her chest.
We got back in the car, all three of us.
Jodie started singing a sweet lullaby to the girl that, with her big brown eyes and the little thin lips, smiled to her. She turned to me:
- Cheryl. We'll call her Cheryl.
- Cheryl… - I softly whispered.
I really felt the luckiest man in the world.
Welcome home, Cheryl.
