Tiza Narito

Building a Family

In the heart of the peaceful village, where the hills met the horizon and the wind carried only songs of joy, my life had begun to take a new shape—one I never imagined possible.

For the first time, I wasn't a soldier. I wasn't a hunted man.

I was just… Kal—a name given to me by the people who saved me. A name that meant "new sun" in their language. And for once, I felt like I was living under a new sun.

The bond between Lara and I had grown deeper with each passing season. She had become the light in my darkness, my guiding star. And after two years of healing and quiet joy, I knew—this was the life I wanted forever.

It was during one of the village’s biggest festivals, under lanterns strung between trees and stars dancing above us, that I finally found the courage to ask the question that had lived in my heart for months.

As music played and laughter echoed through the night, I pulled Lara gently aside beneath the old moonlit tree where we had shared our first kiss. My hands trembled slightly not from fear, but from the weight of everything I felt.

“Lara…” I began, looking into her eyes.

“I may not remember who I was… I don’t know where I came from, or what kind of life I lived before this. But I know one thing for certain—I love you. I need you in my life, now and always. So…” I dropped to one knee, my voice low but full of fire,

“Will you marry me?

Will you be my wife?”

For a moment, she stood silent—shocked, wide-eyed, hands at her lips. Then slowly, her expression softened into one of pure joy. A tear slid down her cheek as she whispered,

“Yes… Yes, I will marry you, my love.”

The village erupted with celebration when we shared the news. Songs filled the air, and lanterns were lifted high into the sky as a symbol of our union. But the joy was not over.

Later that night, as we sat by the fire, Lara turned to me with a softness in her gaze I hadn’t seen before. She reached for my hand and placed it gently on her stomach.

“There’s something more, Kal… something I’ve been waiting to tell you.”

I looked at her, puzzled.

“We’re going to have a child,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “You’re going to be a father.”

My heart stopped for a beat, then surged with an emotion I had never known. Joy. Fear. Wonder. I knelt beside her, resting my forehead against hers.

“A family…” I whispered. “You’ve given me a new life, and now… this?”

She smiled, eyes bright. “Yes. Our life is just beginning.”

Months Later…

The seasons changed slowly. Lara’s belly grew with each sunrise. The village supported her like family. I worked harder than ever—helping the hunters, building a new hut for us, learning how to carve wooden toys with my hands.

Every kick from within her belly was a reminder that love had given me something greater than revenge or war ever could. We spent quiet evenings dreaming of names, wondering what our child would look like. I told Lara that no matter what, I would protect them both with my life. And so, we waited.

The winds grew colder as the day neared. The village women began preparing for the birth. I had never known such peace.

But deep in my heart, something stirred… a shadow that hadn’t spoken in years. A whisper beneath my dreams. Something long buried was beginning to shift. Still i held on to the moment.

To Lara. To our unborn child. To the family I never thought I’d have.