Chapter 2

In 1918, at a Brooklyn hospital, a woman was in labor, and after a successful delivery, the doctor took the baby. However, the doctor's expression turned grave when the baby didn't cry. He quickly placed the baby on a nearby stretcher and attempted to resuscitate it by pressing on the heart area. The new mother, Charlotte, saw the situation unfolding and began to cry, prompting a nearby nurse to try and calm her down.

Just as the doctor was about to deliver the devastating news, the baby's first cry was heard, seemingly by miracle. The doctor was taken aback but quickly regained his composure, checked the baby again, and turned from sad to happy. With a warm smile, he congratulated Charlotte, "You've given birth to a healthy boy!" He handed the baby over to the nurse, who cleaned the blood from the baby's skin before placing him in Charlotte's arms. Overjoyed, Charlotte held her baby close, grateful for the unexpected turn of events.

As Charlotte cradled her baby in her arms, tears of joy streaming down her face, she showered his cheeks with kisses. 

The nurse asked, "What's the baby's name, dear?" 

Charlotte's voice trembled as she replied, "Levi, Levi Hart. My husband chose that name before he passed away." She paused, lost in thought, remembering the difficult times she had faced. But as she gazed at her baby, her expression transformed into a warm smile. "Levi means strength, unity, and spiritual connection, and Hart represents swiftness, agility, and grace," she explained, her voice filled with pride and hope. 

The nurse nodded, "What a beautiful name for a beautiful baby." Charlotte's eyes sparkled as she whispered, "Yes, my little Levi, you're a symbol of hope and new beginnings." As she held him close, she felt a sense of peace and promise for their future together.

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Pov Levi:

As I slowly regained consciousness, I was surrounded by darkness and struggled to see. I was overwhelmed by pain and couldn't help but cry out. My hearing was muffled, and everything sounded distant. But as my vision began to clear, I saw a woman with golden blonde hair leaning over me. She was showering my cheek with kisses and holding me tightly, tears of joy streaming down her face. I tried to focus, but exhaustion quickly overtook me, and I fell back into the darkness, surrendering to sleep once again.

It's been two weeks since my birth and today my mother and I were discharged from the hospital.

"As we emerged from the hospital, it seemed like the war had just ended, judging by the smiling soldiers who were reuniting with their families outside. I was only able to take in our surroundings for a brief moment before drifting off to sleep, exhausted by my small body's limitations. When I regained consciousness, we were already standing in front of a small house. My new mother's expression was tinged with sadness as she said, "This is the only thing your father could provide for us, little Levi, but don't worry, I'm here for you and will take care of you." Her words were a mix of sorrow and reassurance, hinting at a complex past and an uncertain future.

As I reflect on my fragmented memories, I recall being an orphan. But my life has taken a beautiful turn. My new mother has showered me with love and care. 'Welcome to our home, little Levi,' she said with enthusiasm, as we stepped into our new life together. It's been five years since I arrived in this world, and surprisingly, it's not so different from my previous one. I've gotten to know my mother, a kind and compassionate nurse at the hospital where I was born. She's been a constant source of support and love.

I've also discovered the benefits of my unique gifts. I developed rapidly, walking and talking within six months, which astonished my mother. As I continued to progress at an incredible pace, she began to call me a genius. Despite the challenges, we've built a happy and beautiful life together. 

Today is my fifth birthday, and I'm home alone because my mother has to work to make ends meet. As usual, I'm reading books on mathematics, science, and history to develop my brain and keep myself engaged. Despite having an eidetic memory, I often find myself re-reading books I've already finished because I get bored easily. It's now around 5 pm, and my mom usually comes home by 4 pm, so I'm starting to get worried. As I pace back and forth in the house, I'm about to call the hospital to check on her when the front door suddenly swings open. My mother bursts in, out of breath, and exclaims, "Happy birthday, my little Levi!" while holding up a cake. I'm so relieved to see her.

"Thanks, Mother," I said, taking the cake from her and offering her a cup of water. "Were you running late to get my cake? That's why you're late, right?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

My mother smiled, taking a sip of the water. "Oh, sweetie, it's just that the cake shop near the hospital was closed, so I had to go a bit farther to get the perfect cake for you," she explained, her eyes shining with love.

I nodded, understanding, and gave her a big hug. "I'm just glad you're home now, and we can celebrate my birthday together," I said, beaming with happiness. My mother hugged me back, and we sat down to enjoy the cake and each other's company.

"I think the perfect birthday gift for you would be admission to school," my mother said, looking straight into my eyes.

I sighed, knowing this conversation was coming. "Mom, you know I'm already ahead of my age group in terms of knowledge. I've learned things that other kids my age are still struggling with."

My mother's expression turned worried. "I know you're smart, little Levi, but that's exactly why you need to go outside and enjoy life. You need to make friends, experience new things, and learn social skills. School is not just about academics, it's about growing as a person."

I understood her point, but I was still hesitant. I had grown comfortable in my routine of reading and learning at home. But I knew my mother wanted the best for me, so I nodded reluctantly, agreeing to give school a try.

I thought these happy days would never end, and I lived my life without a care. But I forgot that life is not always sunshine and rainbows. It brings both happiness and difficulties, and I soon found myself facing a storm in my life. I had grown complacent in my comfortable routine, and the sudden challenges caught me off guard.