June 3rd, 1998. Beep beep beep beep, as the monitors show a pulse of a darker-skinned, woman with long silky black hair, and a voice that could make sirens faint. A distant voice echoes in the hallway, "my baby! I wanna see my baby!" The doors burst open into the nursery as a hand slowly reaches down and picks up Marius. As the doctor places Marius into the hands of a caring woman, "here is your handsome bundle of joy Rebekah" reminded her to take it easy for a few days, advised on formula, and sent them on their way. As the family got home Rebekah gave Marius a bottle and swaddled him into his crib. watching her baby sleep, she felt an overwhelming rush of love fill her heart. How could a baby make someone feel this way? she thought. How could someone only 18 inches long make someone's heart full with so much love? As she watched Marius sleep, she saw a smile appear; wondering what dreams he could be having. A sense of peace wrapped her like a blanket as she drifts to sleep, keeping one eye open that would wake her at any noise from the crib.
As morning approaches, A sleepy Rebekah gets out of bed, checks on Marius who is sleeping so soundly you could hear a pin drop before getting ready for work, as she came downstairs with Marius in her hands, she sets him in his high chair for breakfast."I have set a list of instructions on the counter here of Marius' eating habits, nap schedule, and do's and dont's. I expect you to follow this list exactly, do you understand me"? A blond-headed woman, looking up at Rebekah trembling as it was only her fifth-time babysitting, "y..yes ma'am". "Perfect, now off you go, and get breakfast started". Rebekah waved her hand as she kissed Marius on the forehead, as love engulfed her like a warm hug. "I'll see you when I get back my angel." She whispers. Hours pass when suddenly a crying Rebekah bursts through the front door to the house grabbing baby Marius and hugging him profusely apologizing to him not remembering that Marius could not pick up on emotions just yet. As she walked back outside with Marius, two guards came up to Rebekah. "So? What's it gonna be, your baby, or your job?" Rebekah tried getting away from the guards but could not keep them away. As much as it broke her heart, she knew what she had to do. With tears in her eyes, she kissed Marius and once again apologized before leaving him by a gate outside the hospital. Balling her eyes out as Rebekah dropped Marius off just outside the hospital and walked away for the very last time. Never to see her baby boy again, never knowing what he may become in the future, whether or not he would even survive. As she walked away, she was again approached by the two guards, "so? Did you get rid of the baby as we told you to?" one guard asked in a stern tone. Rubbering her eyes Rebekah replied with a whisper "yes sir."
As time went by Sitting next to the gates of the Hospital, a 4-year-old Marius worried if his mother would ever come back. Fear rushed through his mind, "mom, where did you go?" "Are you coming back?" Sitting there crying his lungs dry, Marius sits there and just waits. Days go by, people pass, until one day, a random stranger reaches down to pick Marius up. "mom?" Marius thought. "wait, no, it can't be my mother. My mother left me here many days ago." "if it's not my mother, who could this strange person be?" Marius thought, "And where is she taking me?" As they pass a house on the right and into a cut-through ally and finally arrive at a house, all Marius could think about was if he would ever see his mom again. "Honey, We found another one!" thundering voice booms over the gathering room. "I'll get the little one a change of clothes and something to eat" responded a higher-pitched voice. "Where did you find this one hun?" the woman asked. "beside a hospital at the gates," the man responded. "was there a birth certificate," the woman asked with concern. "no I couldn't see one" the man responded with disbelief, "no birth certificate, no name, nothing." They both sat there staring at the baby for a moment and then the woman in a cherry voice pitched "then we shall take him in ourselves and care for him." "I agree" responded the man.
Three days go by as the caregivers notice that Marius is getting sick. "should we take Marius to the hospital," the man asked. "why would you ask such a thing," the woman replied. "well in case they ask us who he is. They will need medical records, and the date of birth as well." replied the man with a concerned look on his face. "Well, we can just make up a date. Let's say March 9th, 1997, and hope no one asks for a certificate." replied the woman hopeful. With no other alternative, they decide to leave. As Marius approached the gates to the hospital, he began to cry out and shake. "there there Marius, you are safe with us" Love said calmly. As they entered the hospital a doctor came up to them. "Marius?" The man and woman looking concerned and a bit frightened started questioning the doctor. "How do you know him?" "Who are you?" "What do you..." "now now, don't worry," the doctor cut them off mid-sentence. "you see, my name is Dr. Adams. I was the one who brought this bundle of joy to his mother from the nursery, but might I ask who you two are, and how you got your hands on this baby?" The man spoke first, "My name is hope, I found this 4-year-old just outside the gates to this hospital a few months ago. there was no note, no birth certificate, no letter, then I brought this baby home and my wife 'Love' and I took care of him hoping one day we would find his parents. Has anyone come here by any chance asking about a lost boy?" "I'm afraid not" replied the doctor. "So, will you help us? Please, I beg you." cried out Love. "I will do all that I can" replied the doctor as he picked up Marius and held him close. "you have gone through a lot, huh?" the doctor talking to Marius. As time passed by, Hope was pacing the room when suddenly, the door to the room where the caregivers were staying opened. "Is he going to bed ok?" Love asked concerned. "It was good that you got him in when you did, his hemoglobin was down to a 4, he needed to receive blood and quite a bit." replied the doctor. "but he's gonna be fine, just as long as you bring him in periodically." "we are going to monitor Marius for just a few more minutes to make sure no other conditions are present, and then after that, you may go home." As the doctor closed the door behind him, Love and Hope both sighed relief.
YOU ARE READING
Finding Myself
Short StoryMarius is taken away from his family, all things are foreign to him, will he adjust, or will he be an outsider forever?