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Love at First Sight

Briana A.

    “The doctor will only be a few more moments, Sir. I suggest you take a seat,” The nurse said.
    Too out of sorts to do anything; I sat down in one of the many seats that filled the room from wall to wall paired with a small counter at the other end of the room with a coffee machine. I placed my briefcase down and stared at the aged white walls. They were decorated with paintings that contained about as much personality as the failed art student who donated them. The silence was unsettling.
    “First time?” said a voice.
    I jumped from my seat and turned to see a man in a bright orange construction uniform. There were black stains under the man’s fingertips which clutched a small coffee cup.
    “Sorry, is it that obvious?” I asked as my foot tapped to an unknown rhythm invented by my nerves. The man brought a hand up and clapped it on my shoulder with a warm smile.
    “Don’t worry, it’ll be over before you know it,” said the man.
    “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
    “Mind explaining?”
    I paused for a moment in contemplation, but as the man stared back at me I found the words left my lips regardless.
    “I’m scared,” I said and found myself staring at the ring that laid on my finger. “What if I’m not good enough?” I brought my face to my hands and sighed. “If you had asked me weeks ago how I felt about this I would have said great, but now I’m unsure. It’s all happening so fast! I barely feel like I have a say.” I ran my hand through my hair. “Why did I just tell you all of this?”
    I was met with a smile that stretched across the man’s face. “People have always told me I’m easy to talk to, and it’s easier to explain your troubles to a stranger than a loved one,” he explained. “You were never close to your father, were you?”
    “Excuse you?”
    “Love at first sight,” He began, “No one is ever prepared for their first time. That’s when love at first sight comes in. Every father goes through it.”
    “Oh, that makes so much more sense.”
    The man just held his smile as he took a sip of his coffee.
    “You’ll know what I mean soon enough,” he said.
    Before I could question him the door opened and the nurse came in.
    “Mr. Banner, she’s ready to see you now,” said the nurse with her own smile. I exited the waiting room and was lead to my own. There my wife was hooked up to a monitor, and in her arms laid a small bundle of blankets. I couldn’t take my eyes off the small face that peaked out.
    “Can I?” I asked to which my wife gave a small nod. Once I pulled the small bundle gently against my chest all nerves were calmed. I could do nothing but stare in awe as I held my daughter close. My heart grew with unconditional love and a need to protect this small being with my life. It was something I felt would last forever.
    “She’s beautiful.”
    “I know.”
    “She’s ours?” I asked.
    “Yeah, I’m almost positive.”
    “Almost?”
    “You try to focus while giving birth.”
    I laughed and gave a small nod, “Do you think she’ll like me?”
    “I’d go as far as to say she’ll love you,” she said as she looked at me with a smile unlike any I’ve ever seen before.
    “How is everything going in here?” said the nurse as she entered.
    “Fine. Although, I’m starting to think my husband might love our daughter more than me.” She said with a chuckle which got a sheepish grin from me.
    “That happens with our first-time fathers. Doesn’t sink in until they see the baby. They call it love at first sight.” The nurse said, and I perked my head up.
    “What was that?” I asked.
     “Love at first sight? It’s some saying fathers have,” she explained. “that reminds me, a gentleman told me it was yours.” She held up my briefcase and my mind immediately went to the man in the waiting room.
    “Where?” I asked.
    “In the hallway.”
    I took off into the hallway, but when I left the room there was no one in sight. I let out a sigh and looked down at my daughter.
    “Love at first sight, huh? What do you think?” I asked as if expecting an answer, and in response she smiled up at me.

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