“Okay, worry, these kids want to come out, and I’m not going to have my kids in the car.”
I close my eyes and feel cold sweat pouring down my face. Luca’s hand holds mine, and he tries to reassure me. I’m carried through the hospital entrance, unable to contain my cries of pain; the doctors quickly come toward me, examining my dilation.
“Take her inside, they’re ready.” Luca’s hand detaches itself from mine. I see the nurses lead him into a room to change his clothes, and I feel his gaze follow me until I enter the delivery room.
“I need you to pull, Chiara; he’s almost there; I can see his head.”
Luca is behind me. I hold his hand tightly, feeling my nails sink into his skin, and I let out a cry of pain, trying to push my son away; I pull again and again. Until I hear a thin, shrill cry take over the room, tears streaming down my face, and I can’t help but smile.
“It’s a boy.” I see the nurse taking my baby to be cleaned, and I follow her with my eyes, trying to see my little boy’s face. “I know you’re tired, but just a little longer; the little girl is almost here.”
I feel my body shaking and my strength leaving me little by little as I push for her to come into the world, scream, and pull. “I can’t do it anymore; I don’t have the strength!” My voice is weak and desperate; I feel like all my strength has been drained.
“It’s almost there, any more, just a little longer, and our little girl will be in our arms,” Luca whispers in my ear so that only I can hear him. I feel his hand squeeze mine tighter; I look at his face and feel the unshakeable trust he has in me.
“Just a little longer.”
“Just a little longer, and she’ll be here.”
I unload all the strength I have left and scream, listening to my babies cry in tune, both screaming at the top of their lungs, unaccustomed to their new reality. I fall onto the bed, exhausted, without strength, and incredibly happy, more fulfilled than ever. I look at Luca, smiling in their direction, feeling tears of happiness run down my face; an almost imperceptible smile appears on his lips, and he leaves a light kiss on my forehead.
“You did great, amore.” His voice is low, almostunnoticeable compared to the cries of our babies; he doesn’t let anyone but me understand his feelings. He doesn’t allow anyone to see his weaknesses.
I look into his serene and loving eyes, looking at me with our children on my lap, each occupying one of my arms, calmer because they finally feel my warmth, my love for them. I can’t take my eyes off those little human beings, so fragile and perfect, so immensely loved.
“Matteo and Vittoria, welcome to the world!”
I open my eyes to see Luca, the twins on his lap, each one in an arm; he’s rocking them gently without taking his eyes off them. “Shhh, your mom’s tired; let’s let her sleep a little longer, okay?”
They seem to calm down when they hear their father’s low, calm voice. The door suddenly opens causing the babies to wiggle again. I look at the door to see the whole family staring at Luca, my mother, along with my grandmother running toward them to see the babies. I sit on the bed, looking at the scene in front of me with tears in my eyes. My brothers are arguing with Bella, each claiming to be the favorite aunt or uncle. My mother seems completely mesmerized by her grandchildren, with a big smile on her face. I feel my grandmother’s hand on mine, I see the smile and happiness on her face, she pulls me to her and hugs me kissing my cheek.
Looking at my children and all my family now, I can’t help but think that this is just a dream, the most beautiful and happy dream I ever had. And the best part is that no, this genuine and pure happiness I feel is all real. Life could not be more beautiful!
Epilogue:
2 Years Later: August 16th
The twins run through the garden, letting out that beautiful laugh that makes me die of love. Lorenzo and Vincenzo run after them, making them laugh even more when they reach them and lift them into the air. Luca’s arms go around my waist, and I rest my head on his chest.
“I can’t believe it’s their second birthday!” I feel melancholy watching my children grow up; time is passing too quickly.
Luca laughs and nods, letting go of my waist as he watches Vittoria run toward him in steps that are still a little uncoordinated.
“Daddy!” Her voice is loud and cute, making me smile automatically. He picks up our daughter and throws her in the air, making her laugh.
As soon as she descends from the air, she hugs her father’s neck, leaving slobbery kisses on his cheek. “My little princess.” She grins when she hears her father’s voice, looking like the happiest little girl in the world when she hears the nickname.
I look at Matteo and see him tugging lightly at my dress. I lift him up in my arms and place a kiss on his cheek, feeling him rest his head on my shoulder. “What’s up, Piccolo? Are you happy?” He looks toward his little sister, sees her giggling on his father’s lap, and nods, giving me a small smile.
Matteo is a small copy of Luca, withblack hair and blue eyes, as handsome as his father. He’s calm; he doesn’t like a lot of noise, or a lot of people, a lot of commotion; he likes tobe alone playing, only allowing his sister to join him when it comes to children; he’s attentive to detail, to people, he seems to be constantly alert, examining everything and everyone around him.
Vittoria, on the other hand, has my blonde hair and blue eyes, looking angelic with her blonde curls around her face. Unlike her brother, Vittoria is social, fidgety, seems to have an inexhaustible supply of energy, is very observant, and loves to be the center of attention.
Every time I look at their hand in hand running around the house and see Matteo protecting and looking after his sister, my heart swells with love. Seeing Vittoria constantly pushes his brother around other children, bringing them closer to their cousins, I cannot help but think that it could not be otherwise, they had to be born together. One completes the other, and together, they will be unbeatable; I can already see that.
“Matteo.” Bella’s voice rings out, and she stretchesher arms toward my son. Although he’s a little shy, he agrees to sit on his aunt’s lap and hugs her while she leaves kisses all over his face. I follow her gaze as she watches Vittoria dance among her uncles, laughing non-stop. “Matteo is like Luca and me; he doesn’t like people very much!” I look at her, seeing her thinking about his words, saying them calmly and softly… “I have some difficulty with people, with people’s emotions. Luca and I have always had a hard time understanding feelings; it seems that most people have too many, and we have too little. I think Matteo might feel the same way; he was like me when I was his age, but he wasstill attentive and observant like Luca. Vittoria is a combination of you and your brothers; she observes people but doesn’t shy away from them; she’s fun and sociable; she loves attention, although she knows when it’s the right time to demand it for herself.”
“Mateo is closed off, sometimes too much so, and Vittoria is sociable but sometimes seems a little anxious, like me.” I see hernod out of the corner of my eye.
