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The nurse puts the tiny little body in my hands I hold that tiny little life that I have created in my body and I am filled with a fierce love Death and damnation to anyone who hurts a hair on his tiny head As dictated by custom, Baba refused to letthe evil eye Tell no one’ Today is the first day I will be saying the name I have chosen for my son

‘Oh, look how red you are, Sergei,’ I whisper Not a day has gone by that I didn’t think, talk, or pray for ei He was ripped away fro my first born after him

Sergei nizes his name

The door bursts open and Noah rushes in He stops after two steps into the room He looks pale His hair is mussed and his eyes are quite wild ‘It’s all over The baby is out Are you all right?’ he asks urgently, his words running into each other

‘I’ently

His face is a picture of guilt ‘I missed it all’

‘How’s your head?’ I ask, holding back the laughter

‘It’s okay’ he replies sheepishly

I grin at hi ht of blood’

He stands at the doorway and rubs the back of his neck aardly ‘They cut you Nobody toldto cut you I never expected them to do that!’

My heart feels like it will burst with the love I feel for this ruffly

He coerly

‘Sit down,’ I say, and when he does I put Sergei into his large hands It is a moment I will remember forever Our baby fits into his cupped hands Noah’s face softens as he looks at the ether

‘He’s so small Is this normal?’ he asks worriedly

‘Excusehim out of your cock then tell me he’s small,’ I retort

He flushes a deep red

Ioes out to hinancies and babies Utterly lost and baffled ‘He is eight pounds and two ounces That’s a good size,’ I tell hily

Sergei ummy, healthy ya, my son just yawned

‘Did you see that? He yawned,’ Noah says excitedly

We look at each other, both of us so deeply in love with the little person we have created we have become foolish with it

He takes a deep breath ‘I’m sorry I … er … fainted’