The Circle of Life

The second I saw her, I knew that the prophecy didn't matter. Seeing my newborn daughter, beautiful and healthy, pushed all those morbid thoughts from my mind.

Even though I knew that because she was born, I would die.

I still don't know why everyone is so sad and solomn here. A baby has been born! We should celebrate! But my mother is crying, my father trying to console her, my brother avoiding my gaze. All of them are dressed in black.

The prophecy said I would die right after my daughter was born, but that doesn't mean that my impending death should soil the joy of the birth of a child! I don't understand how they can be so dismal when their new family member has just arrived. How can they be so sad with this beautiful baby here?

I'm not even sad. Not sad that I'm dying. Even as I struggle to breathe, I am not sad.

Not when I stagger out of the room with all my loved ones, saying that I need to go the bathroom.

Not when moving makes me feel like I'm on fire.

Not when I fall to the ground, feeling like there is no air left to breathe..

Even though I know I'm dying, I am not sad. I'm happy that my perfect, beautiful daughter is alive. Happy that she will live on and be the best person she can be.

Happy that I will die so that she can live.