The Light of Love (Children of Genius)
Chapters 1. The Surprising Truth
In a corner of the shady playground, flowers bloom beautifully, creating a cheerful backdrop for the conversation that takes place between Ella and her son, Reo.
A gentle sunlight hugged their faces as the two of them sat on the soft grass.
Reo, a 4-year-old with a bright smile and joking eyes, looked at his mother with a curious look.
"Mama, why are the flowers so colorful?" ask the little boy.
Ella smiled and gently stroked Reo's soft brown hair.
"That's because every flower has its own pretty story, baby. They came from the ground, celebrating the sunlight and the drops of rain. And then, they bring out beautiful colors as a gift to the world."
Reo pondered for a moment, processing his mother's words with the mind of an innocent little boy.
"So, like I was in Mama's stomach?" ask Reo curiously.
Ella was surprised by the sudden question, but she knew this was a good time to open up a bit of her past sheet. He smiled and lifted Reo into his lap.
"Yes, honey. You know, Mama used to have a big belly like when you ate a lot of good food. And inside Mama's belly, there's Reo growing strong and healthy."
Reo looked at his mother's eyes in surprise, his innocent face full of confusion.
"I'm in Mama's stomach? How do I not know?" reo asked, with a confused face.
Ella stroked Reo's cheek gently. Smiling but also shaking his head a few times.
"Mama has a secret that now Mama wants to tell you. When you're in your belly, Mama has to go away for some time. But Mama always prayed and wished the best for you, baby."
Reo nodded, trying to understand his mother's explanation like an old man who understood the meaning of the words just now.
"So, Mama's gone but Mama always thinks of me?" ask her again, with her eyes twitching.
Ella pulled Reo's head close to her chest and strengthened her embrace.
"Yes, definitely! Mama always thinks of you, and Mama loves you, Reo."
The two of them sat in the sun, embracing their secrets and togetherness.
The woman realizes that this moment is the beginning of a journey that will expose them to new challenges, and she is ready to face them all with courage and compassion.
***
There was a tense silence inside the red old car driving in the middle of the city crowd. The large tattoos adorning Roberto's arms contrasted with the gripping silence inside the vehicle.
With one hand clutching the steering wheel and a blank view focused on the road, Roberto glided in a moderate pace at regular intervals.
Ella sat beside him with a mixed gaze between tense and anxious. He knows this is a good time to open the pages of the past, despite doubts about how Reo will respond.
A gust of wind from the slightly open window messed up her brown hair as she began this difficult conversation.
"Roberto," he said slowly, breaking the tense silence.
Roberto rolled his eyes from the road towards Ella, his enigmatic eyes looking for answers on her face.
"What do you mean, Ella?" ask her in a cold tone.
Ella bit her lips for a moment, trying to find the right words. "When I left, I was pregnant. You've become a father."
Roberto was speechless, his expression shifting from shock to anxiety but also disbelief.
"I don't know. I don't know about everything. Why didn't you tell me?" his tan was flat, but not in his heart.
Ella lowered her head, trying to hold back her cries. "I'm scared. I'm afraid of what you're going to say, and I don't want you to feel bonded because of the child. I decided to go and fight on my own."
Roberto felt adrift in his confusion. He was trying to process all the information he had just heard, trying to understand the feelings that had arisen within him.
"So that's why you just left? And now you're back, because ...?"
Ella looked into Roberto's eyes with mixed feelings. He did not know where to start, but was required to speak.
"I came back because Reo was sick. He has leukemia in an advanced stage. I don't know what else to do. And the only chance of recovery for him is a spinal cord transplant. You're the only chance we've got."
Roberto was silent in the worries and feelings raging within him. He felt a conflict between the past he was hiding and the future he might be able to change.
"I need some time to think about it, Ella."
Ella nodded in understanding, capturing the sense of change in the air inside the car. They both know that Reo's destiny depends on Roberto's decision, and both must face the consequences of the past they've been hiding.
Roberto felt his disbelief fill the air in the car. He looked at Ella with a skeptical look, barely able to believe the words he had just heard.
"You're serious, aren't you, Ella? You suddenly show up and say we have kids?" ask with emphasis.
Ella felt her heart beat faster, knowing that this was a stressful moment.
"I know this sounds unbelievable, Roberto. But I brought you a picture of Reo, when he was a baby. And I can give you medical proof of his condition now."
Roberto felt the conflict and the war within him, wanting to believe but hesitating. He bit his lips, trying to calm his chaotic mind.
"Tattoos and outer appearances can be made, Ella. How do I know this isn't just a trick or a lie you've created?"
Ella looked at Roberto with eyes full of sense that could not be expressed, trying to transmit her belief through her gaze.
"Roberto, you cannot feel this truth without seeing it for yourself. I understand your doubt, but Reo needs our help now. He's sick, and the only hope for his recovery is through a transplant of your spinal cord."
Roberto rolled his eyes at the street, trying to gather his thoughts. He felt that he was in a situation he had never imagined before, and his anxiety continued to grow.
"What do you want from me, Ella? Do you expect me to instantly believe and say 'yes' without hesitation?"
Ella clasped her own hands to hold back the overflowing anxiety within her.
"I know it's heavy. I never wanted to force you for anything. I just want to give you a chance to get to know Reo, and if you're willing, please donate your spinal cord for him. But the decision is yours."