"On 16th January 2025 a soul brought to this world" That day everything seems a bit off like the weather is unusually eerie, a sudden storm out of the season. Animals acting strange, like a bird just smashing into the window, a cat hissing at nothing, dog hauling.
[Father]
"This day feels... off. The weather's usually clear this time of year."
[Mother]
"Rick, you're worrying over nothing. You always do."
[Cat] —Hisssss—
[Father]
"AAAAH! Why is there a cat in the flat?! I nearly had a heart attack!"
—BOOM! —
[Father]
"Great. Just great. Now there's a storm and —CRACK! — Perfect! The power's out. What's next?!"
[Mother]
"Riiiiiccc…" —thud—
[Father, calmly]
"Well, I was right. She fainted." —sighs— "Let's rush to the hospital."
—lifts the Shalit effortlessly—
[Father, smugly]
"See? This is exactly why my idea of buying a flat on the ground floor near the city hospital was brilliant. While you were busy carrying our baby, I was busy planning for moments like these. And you always say I worry over nothing. Well, guess what? Worrying is what makes me prepared for things like this!"
— click— Father opens the car door. "It's funny to see a loving woman like you falling for a guy like me." —VROOM— Father starts the car engine. "And try to stay awake until we get to the hospital."
"We hit a major roadblock—a construction site blocking the only route to the hospital. 'Of course, today of all days,' Dad groans, slamming his hands on the steering wheel. After buying a flat on the ground floor near the city hospital, this happens. 'You'd think the universe had it out for us. Damn you, universe!'"
"We finally get to the hospital in record time. Dad slams the car to a stop, throws open the door, and shouts, 'We're here! I saved the day! We'll never speak of this again.'"
[Father, urgently]
"Someone, please! My wife's fainted, we need help—NOW!"
He rushes into the ER, almost knocking over a nurse in the process.
[Nurse, calmly, though a bit startled]
"Sir, sir! Please, stay calm. We'll get her to a bed right away."
The nurse motions to another staff member to help the father gently lift the mother onto a gurney.
[Father, panicking]
"What's happening? Is she going to be, okay? Can you make sure the baby doesn't, you know, go poof?"
[Nurse]
"Sir, we've got everything under control. Please, just wait here."
The nurse walks off as a doctor approaches.
[Father, to the doctor]
"Alright, Doc, you've got this. Just make sure my wife doesn't, like, break or something, okay?"
[Doctor, calmly]
"It's just a delivery. Nothing's going to happen. Relax."
The doctor walks into the ER to take over the situation.
["Aroo! Aroo!" — The sound of dogs hauling]
Several moments later, the doctor walks out of the ER, looking calm but serious.
[Father, anxiously]
"Is everything good?"
[Doctor, with a reassuring smile]
"Congratulations! It's a healthy boy."
[Father, relieved, looking up]
"Thank god, and thank you—"
[Doctor, nodding]
"It's my duty."
[Father, eager]
"Can I go inside now?"
[Doctor, firmly]
"No, wait until the nurse does the cleanup."
[Father, thinking to himself]
"Why the heck are dogs hauling at the moon? Is it a full moon or something? I'm a freakin' idiot, it's raining outside. How the heck would dogs be hauling at the moon? Whatever, let it be. What, is something more cursed gonna happen?"
—Balm—The sound of glass breaking suddenly fills the room, as a bird crashes into the window.
[Father, exasperated, looking around]
"What is this, a horror movie?!"
Nurse rushes out of the ER after hearing the glass break
[Nurse, anxiously]
"Is everything okay, sir?"
[Father]
"I'm fine, but that poor thing is not."
[Nurse, sighing]
"Hospital staff will handle it. By the way, you can go in now. After some time, we'll move your wife to the Mother-Baby Unit."
[Father, nodding]
"Okay."
Father walks slowly toward the door, his heart pounding. The air is thick with a strange tension, and he takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself before stepping inside. The faint beeping of machines and the soft rustling of nurses' shoes on the floor create a rhythm that feels both comforting and surreal. The sterile smell of antiseptic mixes with the faint scent of baby lotion, an odd yet calming combination.
His eyes scan the room, finally landing on his wife. She lies in the hospital bed, pale but breathing steadily. Beside her, a small bundle swaddled in blankets. The baby's tiny hand peeks out from the swaddle, delicate fingers curling slightly, as if reaching for the world.
[Father, whispering to himself]
"Is this real? Is it really happening?"
He walks closer to the bed, his pulse slowly calming as a strange sense of peace washes over him. Reaching for his wife's hand, he feels the coolness of her skin, grounding himself in the moment. The overwhelming weight of it all hits him—this tiny, fragile life that's just entered the world.
For a brief moment, he stands still, lost in the quiet rhythm of her breathing, watching the rise and fall of her chest, knowing that this new life, this miracle, has finally arrived.
A nurse enters the room, breaking the stillness.
[Nurse, gently]
"Sir, could you please step outside for a moment? We need to do some checkups. Afterward, we'll move your wife to the Mother-Baby Unit. You can wait there."
[Father, without taking his eyes off the baby]
"Can I… can I touch him?"
[Nurse, kindly but firmly]
"No, sir. For now, only your wife can touch the baby after the checkup. Once everything is cleared, you'll be able to hold him. We just need to make sure everything is okay first."
The father stands frozen for a second, his hand hovering near the baby, torn between the urge to touch and the hospital's protocols. He takes a deep breath, trying to calm the excitement bubbling inside him.
[Father, softly, to himself]
"Right. I'll wait."
As the mother slowly regains consciousness, her eyes flutter open. She looks at the nurse, a soft, tired smile on her face.
[Mother, weakly]
"Can I hold my baby?"
[Nurse, gently]
"Yes, of course. Here you go."
The nurse carefully hands her the baby. The mother stares at the tiny face, then glances over at the father. She repeats the process, her eyes moving from the baby to him and back again.
[Mother, teasingly]
"I carried you for nine months. I was in labor for 15 hours. I couldn't sleep properly for six months... and now, you come out looking like your stupid dad."
[Father, grinning]
"Aww, he looks like me!"
[Nurse, trying to hold back a chuckle]
"Don't worry, sir. It's just the effect of the anesthesia."
[Father, proudly]
"I know. He's cute just like me."
The nurse smiles to herself, thinking how joyful the father is. She turns to leave, her heart warmed by the moment.
[Nurse, in her mind]
"He's simply overjoyed."
She exits, leaving the new family to bask in the glow of their precious moment.
[Father]
"You know, honey, a bird crashed into the window just a few minutes ago—"
[Mother, cutting him off]
"Please, let's not talk about sad things right now. This is a moment of joy. Focus on something happy... like the baby's name."
[Father, smiling]
"How about Tobey?"
[Mother, smirking]
"As expected from the baby's father, always thinking ahead. Tell me, though, did you even have a name ready if he was a girl?"
[Father, confidently]
"Of course! What did you expect from me?"
[Mother, softly laughing]
"Nothing less."
[narrator]
"Looking at Tobey's tiny face, we had no idea what kind of trouble he'd bring into our lives—or how important he'd become."
[father, in his mind]
"I thought naming him was the hardest part. I was wrong. So, so wrong"