Cassie and Jack

To understand the mystery that is Nara Smith, one had to start at the very beginning of her story.

Which all began 24 years ago at Carter Miller's Hospital when a pregnant teenager and her teenage boyfriend came rushing in.

Cassie, a 17-year-old girl, was in labor, and poor Cassie, the pain was excruciating. But her boyfriend Jack was by her side, holding her hands and supporting her best he could.

Obviously, Cassie didn't tell anyone about her pregnancy, not her friends or family members, and especially not her parents. She was terrified about how they would all react to the news so she simply said nothing. She only told her boyfriend Jack.

They had both agreed on terminating the pregnancy, but they realized that Cassie was already 4 months gone and that could endanger her life.

Her baby bump had been relatively small, so she was able to keep it hidden and always wore baggy clothes so her family and friends wouldn't notice, but at six months, it was getting too hard to hide.

So Cassie came up with an elaborate plan where she told her parents she would be going on a three-month retreat to Florence.

Now, Cassie's parents loved her and she barely asked for things, so they agreed, giving her more than enough money and finding the best hotel for her in Florence.

Jack also did the same thing with his parents and they readily agreed. Jack was a brilliant boy with the best grades and soon would be off to Oxford so anything he wanted his parents would happily provide.

But the only thing Jack wanted was to be with Cassie. He loved her dearly. Of course, he wished that he hadn't gotten her pregnant and that they weren't in this horrid situation. But he still loved her. If she wanted to keep the baby, he would support her until the very end, even if it meant ruining his future.

"I don't want to keep the baby," Cassie said seriously to Jack. "We should give it away. The moment it's born so we can just forget about everything and go back home."

"Anything you want, Cass," Jack replied softly.

Cassie was about to say something when she felt an excruciating pain. It felt sharp like a stab in her lower abdomen. She let out a cry as she gripped Jack's hand.

"I think the baby's coming," she groaned as the pain got worse.

"What!?" Jack asked in shock as he immediately got up. "It's only 28 weeks. It's not yet time."

"Well, this baby is coming now, Jack, so just shut up and help me," Cassie screamed and Jack immediately dashed into action. He grabbed the already prepared hospital bag which he had packed himself as they arrived in Florence. Then he helped Cassie wear her shoes and assisted her in standing up, and they slowly made their way downstairs.

One of the hotel staff spotted them, and when he realized Cassie was in labor, he immediately got a car that took them to the nearest hospital.

After four hours of excruciating pain, Nara was finally born at 4 pm on Wednesday, August 16th.

But she was born prematurely. She looked very small and fragile. Her skin was thin, reddish, and translucent. And she barely made a sound.

"We don't want her," were the first words Cassie said to her attending doctor.

The doctor was a little surprised, but given Cassie's age, he wasn't too shocked.

"Miss Miller, I assure you that your baby will be alright. We have the best neonatal intensive care unit in the country. Soon you'll be able to take her home with you," the doctor explained.

"We still don't want her," Cassie stated. "Please just give her to someone else who does," she added, her voice breaking a little.

"I'm sorry Miss Miller, but you're not old enough to decide that," the Doctor explained.

"Well, I am," Jack, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "Please give her to someone else," he said quietly, his voice hinting at the emotions he tried to hide.

The Doctor sighed. "As you wish. I'll bring some papers for you to sign before you're discharged from the hospital."

After the whole process was over and Jack had finished signing all the paperwork.

He looked up at the doctor.

"Please make sure she finds a good home," he said solemnly.

The doctor nodded.

"And please, her first name should be Nara. I want to be able to find her someday," he added before standing and leaving the doctor's office.

Cassie and Jack left the hospital three days after Nara was born. They went back home to their normal lives as if nothing had happened.

While Nara stayed in the hospital fighting for her life in temperature-regulating incubators for an extra two months until she was healthy enough to be taken home by a loving nurse who worked for the hospital.

But Nara's story had barely begun...