Prelude
Can you hear it? Everywhere, swirling through the air, soft and sweet. It’s in the wind, moving through the grass, creating a beat, making a tune, creating a melody. If you listen closely, closing your eyes, it comes to you, no need to ask. Wave your hands, conduct an orchestra.
~
The day was bright, sunny, one of the best days Oregon had seen in a while. Rays of sunlight broke through a small space in between two curtains. There were few doctors in the room, but not many were needed. It was nearly too perfect, the way everything was going smoothly.
A soon-to-be mother lay on the bed, gasping for breath as pain wound its way through her stomach again and again. Her husband stood, wide-eyed and terrified, on her right side, holding one of her hands. Her legs were propped up, and a doctor stepped forward, wearing gloves.
“On the count of three, I’m going to tell you to push,” he breathed, preparing himself, smiling slightly. He truly loved his job.
Looking to her support, the girl looked frightened for the first time. Trying to be helpful, her man squeezed her hand, letting her know it would all be okay. She nodded, turning back to the doctor.
“Alright,” he said. “One, two, three, push!”
The girl cried out, but it was soon drowned by the wailing of a newborn baby. Several nurses rushed forward, and one hurried off to a corner of the room with the tiny being. Its mother relaxed, turning towards her husband, her expression not having changed in the slightest.
Moments later, the smiling doctor handed a small pink bundle to the mother, who held it with the tenderness only a mother could. She tucked back the blankets around the baby’s face, and leaned toward the father.
“She looks like you,” he whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind his wife’s ear. She gave him a tired smile.
“What should we name her?” she asked, searching his face as though it held the answers. He squinted his eyes, as he so often did when he was thinking.
“Melody,” he finally said softly. “Melody Ann, after your mother.” He looked down at the baby, smiling as her little blue eyes opened to the world. “Our sweet harmony, added to the world,” he said, speaking to his child. She only looked up and around, but the name held significance. None of them knew it yet.
