Kayden - Part 1

The emergency room doors burst open as a man carried his wife in his arms, his face reflecting a mixture of panic and determination. Medical staff rushed over immediately, taking the woman who was gasping in pain, her face glistening with sweat.

"Please, help her! It's time!" the man shouted, barely managing to stay calm as they placed her on a stretcher.

"Quick, prepare for delivery!" ordered a nurse, while another doctor began checking the mother's vital signs.

She struggled to regulate her breathing, but the pain was unbearable. Her hands trembled as she searched for her husband's face, who held her hand tightly, as if trying to transfer some of his energy to her.

"You're doing great... almost there..." he whispered, though his own eyes were on the verge of tears.

The room filled with hurried voices, beeping machines, and bright lights. The doctor quickly assessed the situation.

"She's in full labor. We need her to push when instructed."

Time seemed to slow as the woman gathered strength she no longer had. She screamed with every contraction, her muscles trembling from sheer exhaustion. Her husband didn't let go of her hand, repeating words of encouragement, even though his voice was shaking with fear.

"One more time, strong!" the doctor instructed, and she let out one final, agonizing scream, giving everything she had left.

The newborn's cry filled the room, and the man felt his heart burst with relief. A nurse cleaned the baby and carefully placed him on his mother's chest. She looked at him with glistening, exhausted eyes but full of infinite tenderness.

"Kayden..." she whispered with a weak smile, gently caressing the tiny hand of her son. "His name... will be Kayden..."

Barely finishing her words, her eyelids began to droop, and her hand lost strength. The man noticed the change in her breathing and felt a cold chill run down his spine.

"Darling! Hey, stay with me!" he shouted, but she was already unconscious.

"We need to stabilize her!" the doctor ordered quickly, as nurses moved around the bed again.

The man remained frozen, holding his son's tiny hand as he watched the doctors fight to save her. The baby's cry seemed like a distant echo amid the storm of emotions crashing against his heart.

...

Two years had passed since the birth of Kayden Osawa, a boy who inherited his Japanese surname from his father. During that time, Kayden displayed astonishing feats for his young age, surprising even his own parents.

At five months, he was already taking his first wobbly steps, and by eight months, he walked confidently, as if he had been doing it his whole life. His physical development seemed to defy logic, as by fifteen months, he was already performing complex movements, like jumping, climbing to high places, and maintaining impressive balance for his age.

However, it wasn't just physically where Kayden proved to be exceptional. At four months, he spoke his first words, leaving his mother completely stunned upon hearing his clear and determined voice. His memory was prodigious: he remembered places and faces with absolute precision, even if he had only seen them once. His reasoning skills were also unusual, as while growing up, his mother bought increasingly challenging puzzles, and he solved them effortlessly. At just one year and nine months, he could already form written words and showed insatiable curiosity about books, flipping through them with keen interest.

Kayden was an exceptional child in every sense of the word. His parents, aware of this, began carefully planning the education they would provide, knowing that ordinary teaching wouldn't be enough for his intellect and abilities. Fortunately, his father, a scientist dedicated to the study of human behavior, already had a clear idea of how to guide his son's growth. Elisa, Kayden's mother, couldn't be happier seeing the bright future that awaited him.

However, that miracle had come at a high cost. From the beginning, the pregnancy was complicated. Kayden's special nature required far more nutrients than an average baby, significantly weakening Elisa's health. Alarmed, the parents sought out multiple specialists, who warned that the birth would be extremely dangerous. If Elisa didn't follow a strict diet and supplement her nutrition with surgical precision, both she and the baby could die.

But Elisa didn't give up. She followed every medical recommendation, taking everything necessary to endure her son's growth, even though her health didn't improve much. She knew the physical strain was inevitable, but she also understood it was worth it if Kayden managed to survive and thrive.

Time passed, and at two years and fifteen days old, Kayden lost his mother. Most children at that age don't understand the concept of death, but Kayden did. He knew his mother was sick and watched her close her eyes, never to open them again. Although his brilliant mind processed what had happened, the pain in his young heart was hard to grasp.

..

The hospital room was silent, broken only by the soft beeping of machines monitoring Elisa's fading heartbeat. The dim light of sunset filtered through the curtains, casting long shadows on the walls. Elisa, lying in bed with pale skin and dry lips, could barely stay conscious. She knew the end was near, but she couldn't help but smile at the sight of her little boy sitting next to her, his big, bright eyes watching her with innocent curiosity.

Kayden stood on a small chair, holding his mother's hand with both of his, as if afraid she might disappear if he let go. His dark hair was messy, and his calm gaze held something no child his age should feel: worry.

Elisa took a deep breath, making a superhuman effort to lift her other hand and caress her son's cheek. Her touch was weak, almost as if it were made of air.

"Kayden..." she whispered, forcing herself to keep her voice steady. "My little one... you look so strong today."

Kayden tilted his head, as if trying to understand what his mother was saying.

"Mom... does it hurt?" he asked in his clear little voice, the one that always made her smile.

Elisa slowly shook her head, though a pang shot through her chest. She didn't want him to remember her suffering.

"No... it doesn't hurt," she lied softly. "I'm okay... because you're here with me."

The boy returned her smile, though there was something in his gaze that showed he wasn't entirely convinced. Elisa felt her heart break a little more seeing him like that—so small, yet so perceptive.

"Kayden... I want you to always be happy, okay?" she said sweetly. "And never give up... no matter what."

Kayden blinked, as if not fully grasping the weight of her words, but still nodded his head.

"I'll be strong, Mom. Promise," he replied with a determination that surprised Elisa.

"That's my boy..." she murmured, trying to maintain her smile while fatigue overwhelmed her like an unstoppable tide.

Elisa felt her body weakening with every passing second. Her eyelids grew heavy, and coldness spread through her limbs. Still, she forced herself not to look away from her son.

"Kayden..." she whispered with her last breath, barely a murmur lost in the air. "I love you... more than anything in this world."

The boy leaned closer, resting his small head on his mother's chest, listening to the slow, erratic rhythm of her heart.

"I love you too, Mom..."

Elisa felt tears escape her eyes, but she no longer had the strength to wipe them away. Her breathing became slower and deeper, as if her body were fighting to stay just a little longer.

"You're going to be someone amazing..." she whispered with her final breath, just a faint whisper carried away.

And then, with a last smile on her face, her eyes closed forever.

Kayden remained still, hugging her with his small arms, as if his warmth could bring her back. After a few seconds, he looked up, calling out once more.

"Mom..." he whispered. "Mom... wake up..."

The room's silence was his only answer. The boy pressed his lips together, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Though his young age couldn't put it into words, deep down in his heart, he knew his mother would never wake up again.

He kept holding on to her, letting the sunset embrace them, as if the warm glow was the last hug his mother could give him.