ONE SHOTS MARINA (ENGLISH)

25. Andrea Nina

P.O.V. CARINA DELUCA-BISHOP

I was exhausted, a burnout that seemed to take every cell of my body. The sweat ran down my forehead, my chest rose and fell quickly as I tried to regulate my breathing.

But at that moment, all the pain, every second of effort, disappeared to hear the most incredible sound in the world: our daughter's crying. I turned my head and looked at Maya beside me, her eyes were shining with tears, and her face was lit up with a mixture of astonishment and happiness. We could not say anything, just looked at each other, as if the world had stopped and only existed that moment.

- She is here, bambina - my voice came out as a whisper, hardly believing that we had arrived there.

Jo approached, carefully holding our baby and gently placing it beside me. Andrea Nina. The name we chose with so much love, in honor of my brother. And there she was, so small, so fragile, but at the same time so powerful, as if her simple birth had filled all the empty spaces in our hearts.

- Oh, my God - my wife murmured to my side, leaning over to see her daughter closer, tears freely falling down her face. I saw her wipe her eyes with the sleeve of the coat, laughing softly as she tried to contain the emotion - She is... Perfect.

Our girl was bald, just like Liam when he was born, but there was a light blonde fluff on her almost non-existent eyebrows. And when she finally opened her eyes, I felt my heart almost stop. 

They were honey-colored eyes. Just like the eyes of my stupid little brother.

I couldn't stop the tears that were already running down my face. I never thought I could feel something so strong, so visceral. I held her little hand with my fingers and at that moment everything seemed to fit.

- Ciao, piccolina - I whispered with my voice, unable to take my eyes off her - Mamma ti ama già tantissimo!

Maya, beside me, seemed as emotional as I am. She approached me and, with a soft smile, gave me a quick peck, as if she wanted to seal that moment of pure happiness between us. I closed my eyes briefly, feeling the taste of her tears on my lips, and allowed myself to feel the fullness of what we were living.

- We got it, Carina - she whispered, touching her forehead to mine - She's here... Finally.

I looked back at our daughter, her little eyes still closed as she hugged my breast, and the love I felt for her and my wife at that moment was something words could never describe.

- She's so beautiful, my love - Maya said, still emotional, gently passing her hand through our daughter's little body.

- Yes, she's ours - I smile, my eyes still shining with tears.

That was our little family, our future, and all that mattered was being together.

Still absorbed by the magical moment of holding the little girl in my arms, the world around us seemed to fade away. I was lost in the softness of her skin, in the warmth of her body against mine and in the feeling that life had never been so full.

Maya was now sitting next to me, still with that look of wonder, as if at any moment she would explode with happiness. Everything seemed perfect. I could almost forget that the hospital was still in full swing, until I heard a familiar voice.

- You two created a mini Maya - Jo's playful voice brought me back to reality.

I looked up and saw my friend standing at the door of the room, smiling as she approached. She looked at Andrea with genuine admiration.

Her comment made me laugh. I looked at the baby and for a second, I saw exactly what Wilson was saying.

My wife arched an eyebrow, looking at me with a smug smile.