The beginning
And with a blinding light, it all begins.
I feel the warmth escape me as I'm brought out into this frozen world. Ice cold, it feels like. The air is harsh, far more difficult to breathe than anything ever, forcing me to cry. The crying causes air to works its way into my lungs, getting me to actually inhale and take in oxygen.
Only shortly after being removed from the warmth and comfort, I'm wrapped up in a soft towel, still far colder than anything I'd felt before but at least it's an upgrade. The person who wrapped me up looks like a giant. A god above my ant-like existence.
For a few moments I'm handed off to someone else. She looks warmer. She looks like the comfort I was removed from. ...She looks terribly exhausted. Though she still smiles. Looking down at me like I'm the most special thing she's seen.
Only now do I realise I've stopped crying, instead just watching her. Seeing how my presence has put such a toll on this woman. Tears and smiles. Cries and laughter. I look up at her curiously, and I feel safe.
The hunger finally begins to kick in, making tears leak over my cheeks, and she immediately knows what to do. She offers me nutrition, and feeds me, nurishing my hunger and proving even more how amazing she is.
Soon it's already night. I'm restless. How could I ever even think to rest when in mere moments I had been brought into this harsh world, whilst being introduced to the single most wonderful thing to grace this earth. Despite my restlessness I remain still. Not wanting to wake her when she seemed so much more tired than everyone around me. On a chair beside us is a tall man. He looks fit, strong, capable. He's holding her hand, gently stroking her palm with his thumb.
His gaze moves over to me as he reaches out and gently pets my head. His hands feel rough. But I'm not complaining. He's nice. I get taken onto his lap as he grabs a little bottle and gently presses it to my lips, letting me feed some more before dozing off.
That fast?
It takes nearly no time at all and I'm already a year old. I'm resting in a simple crib, large, comfortable, and filled with a soft blanket and my most favorite possession. It's really not much, just a simple stuffed animal of a fish. But it's mine, and it's my favorite. Footsteps thud against the floor, causing me to look over in their direction. I see my father, Chris Lieron, walking over to me. He looks glad, gently picking me up and playing with me. It seems like something so minor but I love every second of it, giggling like crazy. I reach out for him and hold his chin, it feels stubbly and familiar, comforting to the touch.
This is pretty much how my entire day is filled. Playing, resting, eating. It's comfortable. At about 4 pm I'm playing with my mother. She keeps covering her smile and then bringing it back to me, causing me to laugh and giggle endlessly. My playful babbles sound like gibberish, until she squeals in delight and runs over to get dad, telling me to repeat what noise I just made. "Mama?", is that what got her so excited? And she smiles even wider. I think it is what she wanted to hear. My dad looks stunned, just looking at me with his jaw dropped, before joining mom in laughter and joy.
Less than a week later I finally notice a small detail. I'm crawling, mom and dad are walking. I wonder if I can do so too? My first attempt naturally fails. Flat on my ass again. Quite glad this blanket is here to cushion me. And it's not the last time i fall. Up, and back down. Over and over. Until... I'm.. I'm standing!