Sleepless Night

When I was younger I never understood why parents were so cranky in the early morning. Guess now I understand a little. From early AM's to Late PM's and little yankers that barge into your room right when you've counted your last sheep,
"Nina I heard a noise."

So you rush the little yanker back to her room and get her settled back into bed thinking that the situation is under control. Or so you judged until you feel that you can walk no more- look down at your legs to find a three year-old, her arms tightly wrapped around your knees.
"Nina can I sleep with you tonight?"

Seeing as it's hard to say no to a face of pure Ivory, blue eyes and curly black locks, you start your journey down the hall to your room. Not knowing of the sleepless night that is yet to come.

After an hour of watching the ceiling and a few slaps in the face by tiny little hands. You're mind starts to wander and it's not sleep you think about anymore. You start to think about that one person who sits somewhere in the middle of Iraq. Surrounded in a sea of red sand and unbearable heat. Wondering if this one person, in his moments of silence, finds himself thinking of his unborn child. Wondering if he finds himself thinking of what the future might hold for the both of them. That's when you feel the tears stream down your face, and you know that you've come across the most sensitive topic of all. Knowing that he sits thousands of miles away not knowing of all the prayers and pleads you've recited night after night. Or of all the unsaid words and feelings you've held inside that rock back and forth in there own sea of lament. Not knowing of the knot in your throat, everytime you drive by an Army billboard or the backhand flips your tummy stunts each time you hear his name. You try and tell your self that you care just cause you carry his child. Even though deep down inside you fight that feeling, a feeling that only got stronger that night.

Now between the two, the gentlemen and damsel, there stands a child. Who knows not of mommies love or daddies fear. A child who not yet comprehends the meaning of his life or of the decisions that they dare make. Decisions that could then make or break his life. So withholding all my fears I closed my eyes and prayed:

Please God, watch over him. Send your invincible angels to Protect him with their wings. Help him overcome his fears. In his darkest times- Guide him and help him see the light. Bless him God with lots of love, strength and courage. May he come to be the man you want him to be. I understand in life we get what is meant for us, so If his Journey lead not to me- may his path not drift away from his child. Though if he does and I never see this man again. Be with him God and his life be full of happiness. For the days to come, even though he might never know, he'll always hold a special place in my heart and for the rest of my life- there he will always be. So from now and until the end of my life- God I pray for him.