The Day You Were Born.

To my beloved daughter

The day you were born into this world.
Dad will never forget that day for as long as I live.

It might be a story you don't know yet, but today I want to tell you just how special that day was.

Labor pains began

Three days past your due date, in the middle of the night, Mom suddenly whispered, "It hurts..."
Seeing Mom's face contorted and her brow furrowed, I understood immediately.

"This is labor."

I hurriedly called the hospital, and they told us, "It's still in the early stages, so please wait and see until morning."

Is it really okay to just wait?

While holding onto that anxiety, all I could do was time the intervals of her contractions.

Mom tried to regulate her breathing slowly while enduring the pain.
Her face looked so pained that just watching her made my heart ache.

By the time dawn broke, the intervals between the pains were getting shorter and shorter, and she had reached her limit.

I rushed her into the car and headed for the hospital.
The ten-minute drive felt strangely long.

"It'll be soon, it'll be soon..."

Even as I said that, I was just feeling impatient.

Time where I could only wait

When we arrived at the hospital, Mom went straight in for an examination.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance was restricted, so I was told to wait outside.

"Sir, it might be a long day today. Why don't you go buy something to eat?"

The midwife told me that, but the bread and coffee I bought at the convenience store had absolutely no taste.

I returned to the car and stared at the hospital.
I couldn't sit still, so I got out of the car many times and walked around the hospital.
I think I must have looked like a suspicious person.

"What is Mom doing right now?"
"Is the baby doing okay?"

Even though there was no point in thinking about it, my anxiety wouldn't stop.

Your tiny heartbeat

It was past 10 o'clock when I was finally allowed into the hospital.

Mom's face was wet with sweat, and occasionally she would cry out, unable to bear the pain.
Even so, the doctor calmly stated, "It will still take some time."

Dad holds Mom's hand.

"It's okay, let's do our best together."

That was all he could say to her.

Then, the nurse placed a stethoscope on Mom's belly and suddenly smiled.

"The baby is hiccuping."

A small sound echoed rhythmically.

At that moment, Mom's tense face suddenly relaxed.

"You're working so hard inside my tummy, aren't you?"

Seeing Mom whisper that in a faint voice, Dad felt a little bit saved.

"You are working hard inside the womb."

Just knowing that gave both Dad and Mom a mysterious surge of strength.

In the quiet car

After that, Dad was sent out of the hospital again.

With no other choice, he returned to the car and sank deep into the seat.
When he opened the window just a little, the autumn breeze brushed against his cheeks coolly.
He felt his tense heart loosen just a little bit.

Suddenly, the sound of the hiccups he heard earlier came back to his mind.
The small, rhythmic sound of hic, hic...
You are truly alive inside the womb.
To think that such a simple fact could be so reassuring and warm.

While wrapped in that sound, memories of the days leading up to meeting you floated into Dad's mind.

The day we found out about the pregnancy.
Mixed with disbelief and joy, I asked Mom over and over again, "Is it true?"

And the day we found out your gender.
On the cake plate Mom prepared for us, it was gently written:
“There will be two princesses.”
The moment I saw those words, my chest felt warm, and I almost burst into tears.

I watched by your side as Mom's belly grew little by little.
Mom and I discussed your name many times, and night after night, we talked about what kind of child you would be.
And every time she felt you move, we would laugh together as Mom happily told me, “You just moved!”

Each one of those memories gently illuminates the depths of my heart like a revolving lantern.

Right now, Dad and Mom are looking forward to meeting you with all our hearts.
We are simply cherishing the thought of“you”who waits beyond the anxiety and the pain.

The inside of the car was quiet.
The scenery flowing outside the window, and even time itself, seemed to have stopped.

Yet, a certain heartbeat was echoing within my chest.
Your heartbeat, and the new story of the three of us becoming a family, had begun to move quietly, but surely.

The moment of decision

Past 3:00 PM, Mom's pain had reached its peak.

“I don't think... I can do this anymore...”

Tears welled up in Mom's eyes as she said that in a trembling voice.

Dad could only hold her hand tightly and repeat, “It’s okay, it’s going to be okay...” over and over.

In the midst of that, the doctor said one thing.

“Switching to a cesarean section is one option.”

Upon hearing about the surgery, Mom closed her eyes and remained silent for a while.

“...I'm scared. But...”

Mom bit her lip, hesitant.

She must have had a strong desire to give birth naturally.
Even so, the pain had exceeded her limits.

Dad gently squeezed Mom's hand and said quietly,

“Any way is fine. As long as you and the baby are safe, that is what matters most.”

After a while, Mom nodded slowly.

Mom was thinking about your safety above her own pain.

"I'm so sorry."

Mom whispered that softly.

No. You have nothing to apologize for.
The courage you showed in making that decision to protect you is so precious.

Dad just nodded firmly.

Nice to meet you, my child.

As preparations for the surgery proceeded, Mom was brought in on a wheelchair.

With a sweat-drenched face, Mom smiled and said, "I'll do my best."
Dad was choked up, and all he could manage to say was, "It's okay, I'm right here with you."

And then, the operating room door closed.

Dad offered up the most earnest prayer of his life.

"Please, let them be born safely."

Just past 5:00 PM.
The midwife appeared, carrying a tiny baby.

When I held you, so small, for the first time,

"Wow, you're so small..."

I said, without thinking.

You were soft and warm, and you gripped my finger tightly with your tiny hand.

In that moment, I was overcome with emotion.

"Thank you for being born."

I whispered that as I held you for the first time.
Seeing you, so warm and small, yet crying with such strength, I felt the weight and miracle of life with my whole being.

You were born to be loved.

The day you were born became, without a doubt, the most important day of our lives for both Mom and Dad.

Mom risked her life to bring you into this world.
She shed tears many times and felt like giving up, yet she kept looking forward, enduring with all her heart and soul just to meet you.

I was moved by her strength and courage time and time again.
And I thought to myself once more,
“I am so glad she is your mom.”

You were loved long before you were born.
The day we first heard your heartbeat, the day we first saw you on the ultrasound, the times you sneezed, and the times you kicked Mom's belly—with every single one, Mom and Dad laughed, cried, and felt our hearts stirred.

It is a miracle that you came into this world.
Countless prayers and so much love surrounded your birth.
So please, I want you to remember that.

From the very moment you were born, you have been loved, always and forever.
And from now on, no matter what happens.
No matter who you are, how you feel, or what you face.

And I want you to live this life, which Mom risked her own to give you, with great care.

Mom and Dad are truly proud that you are who you are.

Thank you so much for being born.

With all my love, Dad.