When Tebello was born, she refused to cry.
For a first time mom, or any mom at all; when you give birth and you do not hear any cries, your heart shatters for a moment. I remember my heart stopping for a long while when I did not hear her cry. The entire room went black, my soul became cold and the pain of losing my child immediately blossomed in me. Breathing hurt and I could not bring myself to ask what was going on?
I could hear the scurry of panicked feet, the murmurs of confused doctors and then, the feel of my husband's hand in mine -
"She's fine, she's perfectly fine" he said
But there was still no cry. Was he saying this to keep me calm? to keep me from choosing to go wherever this bundle was headed? I felt tears trickle down the sides of my eyes and then a feeling of acceptance flooded me, in just seconds, I had accepted. I had accepted the alleged death of my first born child.
I looked at my husband, my face willing him to tell me the truth but he just smiled down at me, innocently. Unknowingly.
"She's a special one" the nurse said as she handed me the child that was covered in a glow of love and perfection. I looked at the nurse, my husband, everyone who was in that ward and they all looked calm, like there was no crisis at all.
My child did not cry -
She refused to cry-
But her small hand touched my face, so much warmth and a sensation I couldn't quiet describe. I believe that was her way of telling me that she was alive and well. And that there was nothing to worry about.
My quiet child. My harmonious baby.
For a very long time I held onto her. Saying nothing, just rocking fourth and back, quiet tears oozing down my face, our hearts beating in sync, her breathe being exchanged with my own. My daughter's arrival was the calm to my existence, the center of my peace and for this reason, her name was Tebello - woke and vigil. She was my prospection to a new hope, love and something better. Something housed inside of me.
But, parenthood, and life in general, did not come with an instruction manual. Although she might never know, because of her, I hold life's lessons at the sleeves of my arms.
Raising an odd child was never an easy task.
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Insanity was my life
Mystery / ThrillerA young girl is diagnosed with severe insanity after her parents pick up unusual traits in her behavior. Her story is told by the people who were once graced by her presence and most especially by a psychiatric doctor, a man with the same tendencies...
