THE LUNA WHO CONQUERED DEATH
Chapter 40: Growing Pains
Luna was one month old when she spoke her first word.
Not babbling. Not random sounds. A clear, deliberate word.
"Mama."
I was feeding her at three in the morning, exhausted and half-asleep, when her silver eyes focused on mine and she said it.
"Adrian!" I called out, not caring that it was the middle of the night. "Adrian, she just spoke!"
He stumbled into the nursery, hair disheveled. "What? Spoke? Babies don't speak until at least six months..."
"Mama," Luna repeated, reaching for my face.
We stared at our one-month-old daughter in shock and wonder and growing concern.
"This is accelerating," Adrian said quietly. "She's developing at what, six times normal speed now?"
"Dr. Moira estimated eight times during last week's ch
