This is my entry for GOS's Feb Writing contest. It takes a few short moments to read, so please do and let me know what you think!
Life for Granted
Like any other birth mine was violent and quick. I was brought into this world without permission or knowledge; I was just here. The first thing I remember was my mother's eyes. Not so much her eyes as my reflection in them. I saw my poor frail state shivering at every breath she would take. I stared at her, begging for acceptance, receiving it with every blink she gave me. She looked at me as only a person who has brought another life to this world can, caring, nurturing, and loving. "Hello my beautiful beacon," she whispered to me as I continued to shiver to her words. She was so young then, too young to be creating a new life, too young to have to deal with the responsibility of the world. I gazed back into her eyes, comparing myself to her. Her features reminded me of an angel. Long, beautiful hair that would make any man weep at the sight of such a perfection of beauty. Her skin was soft and smooth as a newborn's. Her eyes, her eyes could look right through you. From the first time I saw her she saw my soul, my life. She knew who I was before I knew what I was.
The night of my birth was far too cold for a celebration. The darkness had covered the fields like a blanket. There were no stars to be seen in the moonless sky. The winter had been a harsh one. This was not the time for a celebration. This was not the time to be bringing life into this world. But she did celebrate. She seized the winter air with her whole body and laughed and sang. She jumped and she swayed. She celebrated herself, celebrated me. She took to the night air like a dove takes to a summer's day, soaring across the fields with joy and love. She danced along with the blowing wind and I danced with her. There was no reason for it but we danced. It's as if I couldn't help myself but to. When the wind moved her it moved me, swaying and spinning.
The frigid wind cut me hard. As its ruthless tyranny broke the peacefulness of the winter night, I longed for my mother. I needed her to protect me, to save me from the cold. I could hear her joyful laughing in the distance, her singing being carried away by the bastard wind. Her youthful naiveté had lead her to forget about me. As the wind blew harder I shivered. I felt myself fading away, and as quickly and violently I entered this world I would leave it. I cursed my mother for her ignorance in creating me. How foolish of her to do this to another living thing. As I embraced my inevitable end, I heard footsteps behind me. My mother quickly cupped her hands around me, "Don't leave me just yet," she said with a smile on her face. I shiver with every word. With our unexpected reunion my strength returned, and so did my love for her. How fickle a child's love can be when a mother's is so unconditional.
As the wind calmed so did my fear of premature departure. The young mother continued her playful dancing in the crisp winter night. The night felt as if it would never end, and I didn't want it to. The wind would pick up slightly and we would dance with the breeze. As the night passed I heard my mother laugh and sing to herself as only youth would allow you to do, too young to be bringing life into this world. The night air soon began to warm and the dark sky was pierced by the sharp glow of the new day's sun climbing over the horizon. The night of my birth was over, and the first day of my life had just begun. I waited patiently for my mother to return to my side, longing for her words that would make me shiver.
She returned back by my side. Smiling and laughing with exhaustion from the night before. As I stared at her she looked into me. The sun light made it hard for me to see my reflection in her eyes. A new day was beginning and our night together was coming to an end. She leaned down towards me, and with every breath she would take I would quiver. She blinked her eyes and smiled. Her soft skin came closer to me, and as she leaned in she whispered to me, "Thank you." I felt the words swarm around me as all her words had before. In that moment she pushed her lips together to grace me with a kiss, and as the air passed between her lips my life was extinguished.