Wrestling ONE SHOTS and IMAGINES

58 Damian Priest

The first thing I heard when I opened my eyes in the morning was our daughter babbling softly over the baby monitor. I couldn't help but smile and think about how lucky and blessed I was.

At the risk of sounding like a cliche, I had everything I ever wanted in life. A loving husband and a child I loved more than ever seemed possible.

There were times in my life when I didn't believe that this life path was destined for me. But today I can say that I am more than happy to have been wrong.

I looked over at my sleeping husband and sighed contentedly. I quickly leaned over and gave him a light kiss on the forehead. Since he was sound asleep, he didn't notice. Quietly, I rolled out of bed and made my way to the nursery. 

Once there, I quietly opened the door and peeked inside. Our little angel was sitting in her bed, still babbling away while she played with her teddy bear.

I walked a bit into the room. Immediately Lucia's head snapped in my direction and the cutest smile in the world spread across her face. Lucia threw her teddy bear to the side and grabbed the bars of her crib to pull herself up. As soon as she stood, she began to hop up and down excitedly.

When I stood in front of her, she raised her arms and looked at me expectantly.

"Mama, up!" she said. Or maybe I should say demanded.

"Good morning, sunshine. Did you sleep well?" I asked after I lifted her in my arms and she snuggled up to me.

"Do we want to wake up Papá?" I continued. Lucia's eyes began to sparkle as she nodded her head.

Waking up her dad when he was home was definitely one of her favorite things to do. Together we went back to the bedroom. With a quick glance I made sure Damian was still asleep.

Then I walked over to the bed and put the little one on his stomach. Quickly I went to my side of the bed and lay down. With a smile on my face, I watched my daughter wondering what she would do.

Lucia leaned forward until her little face was very close to that of her father. Then she pressed a kiss on his nose. Damian, however, did not seem to notice this. 

I watched as Lucia frowned in irritation and did it again. But again without a reaction from her papá. A slight snort was heard before she began to poke Damian in the cheek with her tiny index finger.

Still no reaction, at least none that Lucia would have noticed. But I noticed the small smile that appeared on Damian's lips. He enjoyed these moments as much as his daughter and I enjoyed watching them.

I could tell the little girl was starting to get impatient. In her frustration she took Damien's lower lip between her little fingers and began to pull on it.

"Papá... Papá!" she repeated.

Suddenly Damian opened his eyes and said, "Boo!"

This led to an enthusiastic and not at all startled "EEEK" from Lucia.

It was as if she had been waiting for just that all along.

Damian carefully lifted the little one into the air and Lucia kicked her legs in excitement. She made the cutest little noises. That warmed my heart. This pure joy could not be topped by anything.

"Good morning, mis ángeles. How did my favorite girls sleep?" he asked me while Lucia was still giggling.

"Oh we slept well. You know, I'll never get enough of that. Just looking at you two and thinking how lucky I am. I love you both so much." I said and couldn't stop smiling.

"I know how you feel, because I feel the same way, mi querida," he replied and I leaned in to give him a kiss.

Like every morning, we stayed in bed for a while and spent time together until it was time to start the day.

Already I knew that these were the moments in life I would most love to recall.

Published March 20, 2021