All I knew was darkness, and I was comfortable in it. But now I see a light.
I don't know what I am. I don't know where I am. I don't know who I am. But I am.
I open my eyes... I have a body: good, I have a place to live in; I already have a home. I can't see very well and everything is so shiny and bright it hurts my eyes. Wait. Everything hurts. My skin is too sensitive, and this place is so cold I feel like I'm burning. Suddenly, I'm so scared. Everything I feel is pain. I start to cry loudly, and the sound hurts my ears too.
I feel the presence of others near me. I don't understand anything. This new world is scary, I want to feel safe again. Instead, I feel like I was ripped apart from my origin. And somehow I was put here. What did I do to deserve this?
Others are touching me, what are they doing? They're holding me. I realize I'm tiny compared to them. I can't exactly see them, but I notice movement, and their shapes look gigantic. But then again, I'm not sure how I can compare myself to them.
This body is too weird. I have too many limbs, too many things to control, and others I cannot control. There are too many distractions, so many triggers. I keep crying.
But then I hear a sound I recognize. I immediately feel safer, better. I try to remain silent for a minute, to search for the sound again. And there it is. Somehow I know I need to be closer to the source of the sound, everything will be better once I get there, I will understand better then. But how will I get there?
It doesn't matter because one of the others gets me close to it. Wait. It's another. The sound is coming from one of them. This other is touching me. This touch doesn't feel wrong, it feels warm and soft. I feel less and less scared. I'm okay, everything is better now.
Those sounds are the other's voice, and it sounds familiar. I want to stay here forever. I don't know how I know, but I have to remain next to this other. I know I'll be safe here. I know I'll be cared for. I know I'll be loved.
Oh... Love. Now I remember. I think I'm here to learn more about this thing called love. I don't know what it is just yet, but maybe it starts like this. With a light when all there was before was darkness; with a safe place when all I feel is fear and pain; I think it starts with a familiar voice making its way to me through all the chaos of a new existence.
I hope I don't forget this is what I came to do. This is what I came to be. Because I know this is what I am. Love.
Being born into new worlds never gets old.
Image from pxhere