What Happened?

Writer's Cramp Daily Prompt - write about a new baby.

What happened?

Space, so much space outside this box. I can see straight through it as long as I stay behind the curtain of my eyelashes. Otherwise it is too bright to see a thing. I am lying here with firmness at my back, emptiness above my face and something soft and yielding over my body, just a little like the tight safety of before. Ever since I awoke I have been trying to make sense of it all. Something monumental happened just before I fell asleep. Bad or good, I am not quite sure. How I feel, I am not quite sure. Afraid, excited, overwhelmed...?

I was warm before, everything was tight and safe and lubricated and predictable and softly lit. Sounds were muffled, just heard behind an always present, rhythmic whooshing. Now the noise is deafening and nothing familiar, except for soft cadences of words every now and then from somewhere nearby. Some are deep and reassuring, and others light and soft and sweet and oh so dear. Yes, I know them, those words are mine, they are for me.

I have changed inside too. Gentle waves of movement are happening without my will in my chest and belly and there is a sweet breath in my nose. I am craving rhythm and this is so reassuring. It feels right, as if meant to be. And more, my lips are moving and longing for something that I have had and perhaps forgotten. Deep inside me there is an empty ache, which persists and grows until I open my mouth and hear a new sound - a little mewling wail. When I close my mouth, the sound stops. I feel a little surge of excitement when I realise what I can do. Start and stop this little cry at will. So I do it again, and this is what happens.

A face comes close to mine and I know this face, I remember it as I was rescued and stabilised and warmed after my world spun out of control, when I was cold and frightened and shocked. I raise my lashes a little and brave the light just to look into those eyes. I still don't know what has happened to me, but this is the moment I learn what love is.

There is movement and things spin alarmingly again, but then I am close and warm and safe, the world not quite so big. A little thumping, in the rhythm I know so well, and the dear voice are right there in my ear. I feel warm breath and soft skin against my cheek. It is better than anything I have felt before, until the warmest and softest feeling on my lips tells them just what they longed for and I know just what to do. The sweetest of liquid honey makes tiny drops in my mouth. It is bliss, it is joy. There could be nothing better in life than this.

What happened? I still don't know. But I think I'm ready now, for the great adventure ahead.