Chapter 2: “Embrace of New Beginnin”

The hospital room was calm, illuminated by the soft light of the setting sun filtering through the blinds. The medical monitors beeped softly and steadily, marking the peaceful rhythm of the newborn. In the corner, an old radio from the maternity ward played a gentle melody: *"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"* by Aerosmith, filling the room with a warm, nostalgic atmosphere.

On the bed, Clara cradled her newborn son in her arms. Her red hair fell in soft strands over her face, still somewhat pale after giving birth, but with a special light in her green eyes. The traces of exhaustion were evident on her soft-featured face with light freckles, but the smile she wore was pure joy. Her hands, delicate yet steady, lovingly held the baby, as if nothing in the world could pull her away from this moment.

The baby, Ethan, just a little bundle wrapped in white blankets, slept peacefully against his mother's chest. He had a light tuft of blonde hair and an angelic face, with tiny hands peeking out from the blankets. Though his life had only just begun, his presence filled the room with an indescribable feeling.

In front of her, Roberto, still in his gray business suit, breathed heavily as if he had run a marathon. His light brown hair, with golden streaks tousled, slightly fell over his forehead, while his green-gray eyes, wet with emotion, focused on the scene before him. He had a slight beard of a few days, and his slim build showed he was used to an active lifestyle. Despite his appearance as a successful executive, in that moment, he was just a man deeply moved by the arrival of his son.

Roberto took a step forward, unable to take his eyes off Clara and the baby. A tear slid down his cheek as he whispered, his voice breaking with guilt and emotion, —"I-I'm sorry... I tried everything to get out of the meeting, but I couldn't arrive earlier. Forgive me..."

Clara, with a soft and understanding smile, raised a hand and gestured for him not to worry. —"I understand, dear. You're the manager, and I know it's not always easy to leave everything behind. The important thing is that you're here now," she said in a warm and loving tone.

With her voice still weak but melodious, Clara began to hum the song playing on the radio. Her gaze softened as she sang in a whisper, almost to herself:

*"'Cause even when I dream of you...* 

*The finest dreams just can't compare...* 

*I'd still yearn for you, babe...* 

*And I don't want to miss a thing."* 

Roberto smiled, his eyes shining with love as he approached his wife and the baby. He sat at the edge of the bed, and for a moment, joined her in the song, his voice low but full of emotion. They were together, and that was all that mattered now…

A year and three months passed in the blink of an eye. Roberto was spending less and less time at home, caught up in the responsibilities of his growing project, which was finally beginning to yield more success than setbacks. Meanwhile, Clara had devoted herself to her role as a homemaker, caring for their son, Ethan, and filling their home with songs she softly sang, as if each melody carried a secret promise of love and protection.

Ethan, like any baby his age, was starting to explore the world around him with boundless curiosity. Still unaware of his past life, his days were filled with play and dreams. On one of those quiet nights, when the cool evening air slipped through the slightly open window, Clara, under the dim light of the bedroom lamp, was folding the sheets next to Ethan's crib.

The radio was still playing softly, and a song that faintly resembled *"Here Without You"* by 3 Doors Down began to fill the room. However, this version had a different touch: a female voice, melancholic yet soothing, resonated in the air. Clara, unable to help herself, began to hum the chorus quietly, her sweet voice blending with the singer's.

*"I'm lost without you, darling..."*

*"But you're still in my weary mind..."*

*"I think about you, baby..."*

Clara's soft singing seemed to have a magical effect on the room. Ethan, who was struggling to fall asleep in his crib, began to stir, making little noises as if he were trying to respond to the echo of his mother's song. At first, the sounds he made were simple babbles, but slowly, those incoherent noises started to transform into something more: a tune, a perfect melody that seemed to sync with the song Clara was singing. They weren't words, but the music was there, in its pure essence.

Clara, surprised, froze in place. The air grew heavy with the emotion of the moment, and her hands trembled as she stopped folding the sheets and slowly turned toward the crib. Her green eyes, shining like emeralds under the dim light, met the tiny figure of her son, who continued producing those perfect sounds, as if somehow he was connecting with the music that filled the room.

With her heart racing and a mix of awe and pride on her face, Clara gently lifted Ethan from the crib. She held him close to her chest and continued singing. Their voices, though different, seemed to complement each other in an inexplicable way.

*"Everything I know, and everywhere I go..."

*"It gets hard, but it won't take away my love..."*

*"And when the last one falls, when it's all said and done..."*

*"It gets hard, but it won't take away my love, oh, oh, oh..."*

With every note Clara sang, Ethan responded with his tiny musical sounds, as if the music flowed naturally through him. Clara couldn't hold back her tears. A small tear slid gently down her cheek, reflecting the love and wonder she felt in that moment. She had never imagined her son could have such a special gift, something so pure and beautiful.

She hugged Ethan softly, leaning her face toward him as she whispered with a voice filled with tenderness and pride, —"You sing beautifully, my love... I'm sure you'll be a great artist when you grow up."

The baby, nestled in her arms, kept making those sounds, almost as if responding to his mother's words. Clara closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the sweetness of that instant, while the song continued playing in the background, enveloping mother and son in a bubble of love and music that felt eternal.

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"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." – Audrey Hepburn