Chapter Two: SKY

DATE -: DECEMBER 17, 1986.

TIME -: 9:30 am.

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The soft buzzing of the fluorescent light along with the gentle breeze coming through the open window blinds awoke the sleeping boy to the sound of birds chirping on a nearby tree right outside of his window. Stefan opened his eyes adjusting to the light and trying to remember where he was. He sat up straight looking at the closed door and around him. He was alone. Where are his mother and father? Stefan wondered, why was he alone? This isn't his bedroom. Stefan's heart was hammering in his chest.

He was scared.

A cry for help was about falling off his lips when the door burst open and his mother walked in.

"Mamá!" He cried jumping off the bed and running into his mother's open embrace. Vivian's smiles disappeared at the sound of her son sniffling.

"What is it, baby? Why are you crying?" She held his chubby cheeks as Stefan blinked tears off his eyes.

"I thought you left me, I was scared." He hiccupped.

"Honey, why would you think that? You fell asleep, then we got you a room so you could sleep comfortably on a bed. I'm so sorry if we made you worry?" Vivian kissed his forehead.

"OK Mamá." Stefan hugged his mother, assuring himself that she was really there and that he wasn't alone anymore while enjoying the love and warmth his mother gives.

"Do you want to see your baby brother now?" Vivian whispered into their hug.

"Yes!" Stefan came alive immediately, the moment he has been waiting for. He cleaned the dried tears off his face while practically dragging his mother out of the room. Vivian laughed and followed her son out of the room and into the lobby. Stefan stopped in his tracks, having no idea which way to go. He stared at his mother, his eyes pleading for her to lead the way. Vivian shook her head and smiled while pulling the confused boy down the hallway to their destination. Mother and son came face to face with a closed door and Vivian placed a soft knock on the door as she whispered to her son.

"Try to be quiet, the baby is sleeping on Grandma's laps." At the nod of Stefan's head both mother and child opened and walked into the crowded room. Once inside Stefan hid behind his mother's legs, he peeked from his hiding place and saw his father, his uncle Jared, Patricio Aunt Gina's husband and his Grandpa was speaking to them in hush tones. Stefan looked to his right and saw his Aunt Mary, uncle Jared's wife on a bed with wires and tubes connected into her body, Aunt Gina sat beside her and was whispering in her ear, Aunt Mary has a smile on her face. Stefan looked away and in front of him was his Grandma carrying the little bundle, his eyes snapped back to meet his mother's smiling face.

"Go on." His mother gave him a gentle push forward and went to join his Aunt Gina. Stefan stood rooted to the ground with different emotions rushing through him. Emotions his little mind could not comprehend. He pushed forward stumbling on each step he took, his eyes glassy with unshed tears.

He looked towards his father who indicated for him to keep going by a nod of his head. Two more steps and the little boy was face to face with the bundle in Grandma's hands. The baby seems to be wrapped up in cotton, Stefan could barely see his face, he looked longingly at his Grandma silently pleading for the baby's face to be revealed.

Stefan needed to see his face.

His baby.

His brother.

"Sky," the word came out of his mouth on its own accord. "Sky," he repeated, wailing up. Stefan reached for one tiny hand of his baby brother and smiled as tears ran down his face as if the baby knew Stefan had smiled at him the little baby smiled back. "My Sky," Stefan whispered, teardrops falling off his eyes as he ran back to his mother who held him in a gentle embrace. Mary reached for Stefan's hand, kissing and rubbing a slow circle on it.

"We will call him Sky, you like that don't you?" The sparkle returning to the boy's face once more as he nodded a "Yes!" He is finally a big brother, happy and contented his heart swelled with pride.

The need to protect. To love and To keep overpowering the younger boy. Stefan wondered if this was what it meant and feels like having a baby brother.

"Sky!" Stefan called out loud and the baby cried. Stefan's little heart squeezed in his chest at the sound of the crying baby. "Please, make him stop, Abuela." Stefan held his chest, he didn't understand why he was hurting over the crying baby. Stefan felt his eyes water as he watched his Grandma rock the baby back to sleep. The moment the crying stopped, Stefan felt better.

His Baby Brother.