When It Begins Again

16

Carlos' Coma

The wails of the baby bounced around the walls of the hospital room.

Sweat glistened Carlos' forehead as his heart grew bigger than he thought it ever could.

Tears streamed down Jewel's cheeks as she stared at him.

"I love you."

She mouthed as he pressed his lips against hers.

She was the superhuman and here she was telling him that she loved him.

Carlos passed his finger along her cheek, how could he ever stop loving this woman?

She'd showed him what it means to truly love someone and he couldn't ever go back to how he was without it.

"Baby boy."

The doctor announced as they elevated Jewel's bed and placed him in her arms.

He'd stop crying, his tiny lips puckered, his eyes shut tight as Jewel pressed him against her.

"Jeston."

Carlos said and Jewel nodded as she puckered her lips and he pressed his own against hers.

She'd wanted her late father's middle name to be their son's first name and Carlos would never object to that.

He'd give her anything she wanted if it meant that he got to do life with her forever.

"We created life."

She smiled as he nodded.

"We created life."

She grinned up at him and Carlos felt relief. They'd went from not being sure, to being nervous, to accepting, back to nerves and now to both being overjoyed.

They were both young, but Carlos knew they could handle this, once they did it together. They could conquer the world, once they did it together.

Carlos could feel his head hurting as he pressed his hand against his forehead.

"Daddy, mummy said you saved me. Thank you."

That little voice, that little girl, that wasn't in this memory. She had not been born as yet.

His head began to pound as more voices clouded his mind.

"You can't remember me walking out on you and I can't remember you being shocked as those words left my mouth. I want the chance to take them back, give me that please that. Please."

What was happening?

Where were the voices coming from.

The room of Jewel and baby Jeston began to crumble as he reached out for them.

Was this the end? Was he finally going to vanish.

"Mom needs you, I know she's strong but at the beginning of the separation, she cried a lot when she thought Mya and I were sound asleep."

He felt himself falling backwards as he tried to grab for anything, but he was only surrounded by darkness.

"She missed you everyday and I saw it on her face. I can see it on her face now, I don't think she can handle losing you. I don't think she can survive it, none of us can. So wake up already. Show them who you really are. You're a Santiago and we never give up."

He knew that voice anywhere, but where was it coming from and why did his son sound pained?

Carlos tried to reach for anything, but couldn't. He landed on the concrete floor and as his eyes opened, he was transported into another memory.