Breath of Life

She was still, suspended in the warmth that flowed all around her. Rushing noises filled the silence as fluid surged this way and that. A sound began to make its presence known to her new sense, it built and grew until she heard it as a steady THUD-THUD, THUD-THUD. The new sensations were loud and all-encompassing, yet they relaxed her and acted as a rhythmic lullaby, sending her into a deep sleep.

"Ivana, wake up. Wake up my dear one." This sound was entirely new to Ivana, it wasn't like the other resounding noises she was used to, this one seemed to come from deep inside of her. It had power, yet it was gentle and calming. Again, she heard a deep tone say, "Ivana..."

"It's not a sound, it is a voice," she realized, "I believe I should answer it," she thought. "Yes? Hello, I am here," she wanted to know whose voice it was and why it was talking to her, "Who are you?"

"I am your father. I am the one who formed you and breathed life into you. I am the one who will be with you until you make the journey to my house."

Ivana didn't really understand most of what the voice said, but she understood that he cared for her.

"So does that mean I can talk to you all the time?" she asked, hopeful that this new presence would be a friend.

"Yes, of course, my child." Though she could not see the face of the voice, she felt that he was smiling down upon her.

"What should I call you?" she inquired.

"You can call me Father, and I will call you by the name I have given you; Ivana."

When Father called her by her name, Ivana got a warm feeling all through her. He must have chosen that name for a reason. "I would like to know why he picked it." She asked him, "Why do you call me by that name, Father?"

"I have named you Ivana, which means 'gift of God,' because you are my gift to your mother and father. Your roll in their lives is to be a blessing and my desire is that they treat you like the special gift you are."

"How do I fulfill my role? she wondered, a little uncertain that she would not be up to this task.

"You need not worry. All that is required of you right now is that you love them."

"But how do I do that if I cannot talk to them like I do you?" the new realization worried her despite what Father instructed her not to do.

"There are many ways in which to show love. Though you won't be able to say the words, if you do what you do out of love for them, they will feel it."

"I think I can do that. I want to do that for you."

"Very good," she felt his smile again, "Now, why don't you show your love for your mother by sleeping so that she can get some rest herself." with this, Ivana felt that warmth come over her again and she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

****

"Hey, Charlie, did you know that at 25 weeks babies start responding to voices?" Jemma exclaimed, looking up from her phone as she lounged on the couch.

"Hmm, that is something," Charlie responded in a stiff tone. He turned away from her and headed into the kitchen so she wouldn't see his unpleased look.

"Babe, can we please have the baby? I really think a kid would bring a lot of..." she looked down at her cell, "... A lot of happiness in our lives..."

Charlie turned around slowly, "Jem, are you saying you're not happy?"

His eyes stared intensely at her, it was his look of suppressed emotion, which made her uneasy because she knew all emotions have to decompress eventually.