Indomitable Destiny (DROPPED)

I turned off my computer, feeling exhausted after nearly 10 hours of staring at the screen. As I stretched my arms, I realized just how weary I was.

Determined to brave the chilly day outside, I donned my scarf and gloves before making my way towards the lift. The promise of a warm train station urged me forward.

As the lift doors slid open, I was met with a crowded space filled with fellow employees eager to head home. Squeezing myself into the already-packed lift, I found myself sandwiched between two strangers.

The lift was quiet except for the shuffling of feet as people adjusted themselves to create more room. With a focused mind, I regulated my breathing, finding solace in the descent to the ground floor.

Finally, the doors opened, granting me a breath of fresh air. Taking a deep breath, I fastened my gloves and started towards the lobby. The bustling atmosphere mirrored the crowded lift—people hurriedly going about their own tasks, anxious to reach their destinations. Skillfully navigating through the crowd, I made my way towards the exit door.

Stepping out onto the icy pavement, I marveled at the cityscape unfolding before me. Towering skyscrapers loomed overhead, their glass facades reflecting the dim winter light.

The streets buzzed with life as people, bundled up in scarves and hats, hurriedly went about their business. The frigid air seemed to seep into my bones, causing an involuntary shiver despite my thick coat.

Yet, despite the cold, there was undeniable beauty in the city. A recent snowfall had dusted the sidewalks, softening the hard edges of the buildings. Streetlamps flickered to life with the setting sun, casting a warm glow that highlighted the bustling scene below. Amid the honking of car horns and lively chatter, snippets of holiday music from storefronts added to the festive ambiance.

As I weaved through the throngs of people, a sense of excitement filled me. The holiday season had arrived, and the city exuded an enchanting magic that was contagious. Joyous expressions adorned the faces of those around me, warming my heart despite the icy chill in the air.

Observing the sea of pedestrians crossing the busy road ahead, my anticipation grew. With the traffic light turning from red to green, I eagerly stepped forward, ready to embark on my journey. However, to my surprise, the light abruptly switched back to red.

Confusion briefly clouded my thoughts as I began to slow my pace, but before I could fully come to a stop, someone playfully joking with their friends inadvertently bumped into me, sending me off balance. With a sudden force, I stumbled and landed hard on the wet road.

The world around me transformed in an instant as panic and adrenaline surged through my body. The screeching of tires and blaring horns created a disorienting symphony of chaos.

As time seemed to slow down, I desperately tried to regain my footing. Summoning every ounce of strength and determination, I fought to push myself up. Yet, fate intervened, and I felt a searing pain as a passing car clipped my leg, causing me to crash back onto the pavement.Lying there, dazed and disoriented, the world blurred around me.

My vision struggled to grasp the approaching truck, aware of the impending danger. Helplessly, I watched as it barreled toward me, its deafening honk merging with the erratic beats of my heart.

With a looming presence, the truck closed in, freezing time itself. The weight of my imminent demise pressed heavily upon my chest, and in those fleeting moments, memories of a well-lived life cascaded through my mind.

The faces of loved ones, treasured moments, and unfulfilled dreams danced before me, reminding me of the extraordinary journey I had embarked upon.And then, with an unfathomable impact, the truck collided with my fragile body.

As the world gradually faded into darkness, I heard the frantic cries of paramedics and medics, rushing to my side. The pain was unbearable, but I had to stay conscious.  "Is this how I die?" I mumbled weakly, my throat dry and scratchy.

I didn't have any energy left to fight my fate anymore, as I accepted that the end was near. The world started to turn faint and blurry, and it became difficult to speak.  "Please..... help...." I whispered faintly, before losing consciousness completely, hoping for some kind of miracle.

As I slowly opened my eyes, I found myself surrounded by complete darkness. It felt oddly familiar, as if it was a place I had been to before. The comfort and safety of the darkness was soothing and calming, as if it was calling to me.

Despite the lingering pain and confusion, the darkness felt comforting and welcoming. I struggled to remember where I was or how I got here, but the darkness seemed to hold me in its embrace, lulling me into a dreamlike state.

After what seemed like an eternity, I was awakened from the dreamlike state I had been in.  I could feel something pulling me out of the darkness, towards a light I couldn't quite see. At first, I resisted. I was safe and protected in the embrace of the darkness, and I didn't want to let it go. But as the pull grew stronger, I slowly yielded to the unknown and gradually stepped into the light.

As I slowly started to adjust to my new surroundings, I was wrapped in something that felt comfortable and warm. I thought I had felt arms around me, as if someone or something was cradling me in their embrace.

My ears were filled with the din of voices, though I couldn't understand what they were saying. I could barely make out shapes and colors, but there was an overwhelming sense of peace and security I hadn't experienced before.

The sounds of the voices continued, meanwhile my mind beginning to race with questions about my surroundings. "Where am I? How had I gotten here? Who were these people speaking?" Despite all the questions and confusion, there was still that overwhelming sense of peace and security that I couldn't quite explain, as if this place was meant to be my home.

But as my hunger grew and my stomach started to rumble, the voices in my head became distant and unimportant. As if on cue, something was pressed against my lips, and I began to suck away my hunger with a ferocity I had never felt before.

As my hunger began to dissipate, my exhaustion took over, and I could feel my eyelids drooping slowly closed. The voices in my head continued to fade away, and I felt my surroundings slowly disappear into the background.

***

In a certain place, a grand and imposing castle loomed large, its interior adorned with lavish decorations and extravagant furnishings. Inside a spacious but intimate chamber, a woman in labor was being helped by a team of women of varied ages, all of them dressed in outfits reminiscent of those worn by medieval maids.

As the head maid gave them instructions, the women moved about, attentively tending to the needs of the mother and the newborn baby. Every action was timed to perfection, as if they had performed the ritual a hundred times over. But despite the air of urgency, their faces betrayed a sense of calm and composure.

The beautiful lady lay exhausted on the bed, her body weak and slumped from the birth she had just endured. Her hair, which was once black as night, was now matted and tangled, with streaks of sweat and blood mixed into the strands. Her eyes were still vibrant, their emerald green color standing out against her pale skin, but it was as if all the light had gone out behind them, as they lay vacant and lifeless. Despite her pain and exhaustion, she could not help but feel a sense of pride at the thought of the newborn child she had just brought into the world.

"My lady, congratulations, your son is healthy and strong! The birth went as well as it could have and it's wonderful that you and your baby boy are both doing so well. We are all so proud of you, my lady, and couldn't be happier to have another little angel in our midst" The head maid bowed her head and smiled brightly at the lady and her baby boy.

"Thank you, Olivia, your kind words and hard work mean the world to me. You and the rest of the staff are always so thoughtful and dedicated to your work, The birth could not have gone more smoothly"The lady smiled genuinely at Olivia and the rest of the maids.

"My child has yet to cry," the lady spoke with a curious tone, "I was wondering, is it normal for a baby not to cry right after birth?" Lady Amanda's eyes met the head maid Olivia's with a look of concern

"Your child is a perfect, healthy baby boy, my lady," the head maid, Olivia, quickly reassured the lady. "Sometimes it takes a little while for babies to start crying after birth. It makes sense that he would be a bit overwhelmed and needing some time to adjust to his new environment." Olivia spoke confidently 

"Oh, my lady, may I ask what you plan to name the baby boy? We are all so excited to see him and would love to know what you have chosen." Olivia asked with a warm expression.

The lady hesitated for a moment, deep in thought. She had given so much thought to this baby boy and his name, but now that the time had come, she felt uncertain. "I am still not sure," she replied slowly.

As the lady and the head maid Olivia are deep in conversation about the baby boy's name. They are both thinking hard and trying to decide on the perfect name for him. Suddenly, the door to the room bursts open, causing them both to jump. They turn quickly to see who is causing the disturbance and are startled to see a tall, imposing figure standing in the doorway.

"Amanda!" shouted the tall and imposing figure as he quickly approached her. Seeing her lying in bed and exhausted but well, he immediately rushed to her side to embrace her and his newborn child.

"Thank god, you and our child are both well. I was so worried,"Amanda's husband, continued with tears of joy in his eyes. "You and our beautiful child are all that matters to me, and I am so happy that you're both doing well." he said, as a flood of tears continue to rolled down his face.

Olivia nodded and stepped outside the room, joining the maids who were waiting in the hall.  "Let us give the new parents some time to themselves to celebrate their new baby," Olivia said.  The maids nodded in agreement, and stood quietly as they waited for Amanda and Ethan to have their moment alone together.

As the minutes passed, the maids waited patiently and silently. After a while, Olivia checked the time on her watch and nodded to the maids, who then opened the door and entered the room again. Amanda and Ethan were both sitting up in bed, holding their new baby in their arms.  Amanda and Ethan smiled warmly as the maids re-entered the room.

"Are you two ready for some food?" Olivia asked. She pointed to a small table that was set up with snacks and drinks for them.

Amanda was the first to respond. "Yes, please," she said excitedly. "I'm starved and I could really go for some food now."

"And we have something extra special for you, dear," Olivia added with a wink. "We were able to bake you a small cake in celebration of your new baby." Smiling softly, Olivia handed over a lovely plate of delicious snacks and a small cake to Amanda.

Amanda accepted the treats with a bright smile, eager to taste the delicious snacks and share them with Ethan. She knew that Olivia and the other maids had put a lot of care and effort into the treats,

Amanda, who had been savoring her tasty snacks with gusto, suddenly remembered to inquire of her husband, Ethan, as to the reason as to why he was present when he had urgent matters to attend to in his position and title as Lord.

Ethan, with a warm smile, answered that he had mulled over his decision diligently and had ultimately concluded that the presence of his beloved partner during such a trying time was of utmost importance. He could not bear to have Amanda suffer or be alone during her delivery and the birth of their child, even if it meant neglecting responsibilities in his position as Lord. 

Ethan's cheerful expression suddenly vanished, his heart racing and a cold sweat breaking out on his brow as he glanced at Amanda, who was staring at him with a chilling, uncanny smile on her face. He suddenly felt a sense of dread and impending doom as the sweet smile on Amanda's face seemed to turn darker, her eyes seemingly becoming black as death.

" Aaah, there's a reason for that!" Ethan replied in a fearful tone. "When I received word that you had given birth, I knew I had to rush to your side," he spoke softly. "Futhermore, I give the decision-making to Richard,"

Ethan said with a heavy and determined tone. "He is wise and knowledgeable in matters such as this, and I trust his judgment." His tone revealing his confidence in Richard's ability to handle the situation.

"Forget about it," Amanda replied with a calm and relaxed tone. "Now that you're here, I'd like to ask for your help in naming our child." She smiled fondly at her husband and their son. "What do you think we should call our little boy?".

Ethan let out a sigh of relief as Amanda changed the subject. He was still shaken by the unsettling,  eerie smile she had shown him earlier, but he was grateful that she had brushed the topic off and was now focused on something more pleasant, choosing a name for their son.

Ethan could not get that unsettling smile that Amanda had shown him earlier out of his mind. Though she had quickly changed the subject, he was still worried about the possibility that something was wrong with her.

Thinking about the name for his son helped distract him a little, but he could still feel a gnawing anxiety in his gut. After thinking about the perfect name for their sweet boy,  Ethan took a deep breath and turned to Amanda, who was lovingly stroking their son's head.

"Amanda," he said quietly, "I've come up with a name for our son."Amanda looked up from her son and turned towards Ethan with a warm smile.

"That's great! What did you decided on?" Amanda asked.

Ethan took another deep breath, feeling slightly nervous despite his excitement.  "I think we should name our son Kader," he said, "which meant 'guardian of the pious'."

Amanda's face lit up with excitement as Ethan proposed the name Kader for their son. She smiled warmly and nodded in agreement. "I love that name," she said, "it's perfect!" Amanda explained that she felt the name fit their son perfectly and conveyed a sense of strength and wisdom.

Holding their son in his arms, Ethan looked at him with love and pride and spoke directly to him.

"From now on, your name will be Kader Dyeburn," Ethan continued.  "I'm sure you'll live up to it by being a kind and wise guardian to those around you.

You have already made us so proud, and we can't wait to see what great things you will accomplish with this name. Welcome to the world, Kader, and we're so excited to watch you grow and thrive."

***

  Author note

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