Chapter 7

314 11 42
                                    

Ino's POV:

In the stillness of the night, at 2:30 AM, my eyes snapped open to the shrill cries of our newborn son resonating through the house.

Inojin had caught a cold during the recent rainy spell, leaving him restless and waking up repeatedly through the night.

The once peaceful nights with our six-month-old had turned into a struggle, leaving Sai and me feeling disheartened.

As I stumbled into the nursery, I found Sai already there, comforting our son with soothing words and gentle touches. I hadn't even realized he wasn't beside me in bed.

"Inojin, it's alright, my son," Sai murmured softly, his voice a beacon of calm in the dark.

I reached for the thermometer, checking Inojin's temperature as he continued to fuss. "Poor little one, you're running a fever," I whispered, a twinge of concern gripping my heart.

Sai nodded, his expression etched with worry. "We'll ensure he's comfortable and gets the rest he needs tonight."

Despite our efforts, Inojin's cries persisted, his tiny face contorted in discomfort. As I rocked him back and forth, a sense of helplessness engulfed me.

"He's so fragile, it pains me to see him like this," I confessed, my voice trembling with emotion.

Sai placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "He'll pull through, Ino. Remember, this isn't his first time falling ill."

"That was different. Last time it was just allergies. Did you apply the Vicks on his feet and chest like I asked?" I inquired. He nodded in affirmation.

"Yes, and I used the nasal aspirator to clear his nose so he can breathe better."

"Good. Sakura gave me some baby-safe medicine she had for Daisuke. Could you fetch it from the bathroom cabinet, please?" I requested, setting Inojin down on the changing table to change his diaper.

While doing so, I noticed his rash hadn't improved. Sai returned with the medicine, observing me closely.

"The diaper rash hasn't improved since yesterday," I noted, reaching for baby wipes and diaper cream.

"Should we switch to a different diaper brand?" he suggested.

"No, we've been using the same brand since his birth. I don't understand why it's not healing," I replied, applying more rash cream after cleaning him.

"The doctor did mention his sensitive skin at the last check-up. Perhaps it's reacting to the lotions we use after his baths," Sai speculated, preparing a bottle with the medicine.

"We can only do so much. Let's see how the rash responds to the diaper cream instead of the anti-itch powder," I decided, passing Inojin to Sai so he could feed him the medicine while urging me to rest.

I ensured they were settled before returning to bed, succumbing to sleep once more.

I woke to my 6:00 alarm, utterly exhausted from the night tending to our sick son, with the added duty of attending class. Glancing over, Sai's side of the bed was empty, prompting me to check on him in Inojin's room.

Opening the door, I found him asleep in the rocking chair, with Inojin resting peacefully in his crib.

Sai looked serene as he dozed off in the rocking chair, a picture of fatherly care and devotion. The sight warmed my heart, seeing him there watching over our son as he slept.

I tiptoed closer to the crib to check on my baby, careful not to disturb either of them.

Inojin looked so peaceful, his little chest rising and falling rhythmically with each breath. I couldn't help but marvel at the bond between father and son, a bond that was growing stronger with each passing day.

⍟𝚆𝙴𝙻𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙴 𝚃𝙾 𝙰𝙳𝚄𝙻𝚃𝙷𝙾𝙾𝙳⍟  *𝓑𝓞𝓞𝓚 𝟏*Where stories live. Discover now