CHAPTER 1: MIRACLE & CHILD'S PLAY.

HOSPITAL

The doctor pulled Mr. Hiroto aside, his expression grim.

DOCTOR:"Sir... I'm sorry, but we cannot detect your baby's heartbeat."

Mr. Hiroto stared at him in disbelief.

HAVIOR:"That's impossible. There must be some mistake. My wife feels the baby kicking all the time. Please check again."

On the hospital bed, Fiona Hiroto's eyes widened.

FIONA:"What's wrong with my baby?"

The nurse quickly stepped forward.

NURSE:"Nothing is wrong. Please try to relax."

But the room had already fallen into a tense silence.

The doctor checked again.

And again.

Still nothing.

No heartbeat.

The medical team began discussing the possibility of an emergency C-section, but Fiona immediately shook her head.

FIONA:"No."

DOCTOR:"Mrs. Hiroto"

FIONA:"No. My child will be born through the natural process God ordained."

Tears filled her eyes.

She clasped her hands together and prayed.

"Father Almighty..."

Her voice trembled.

"I refuse to accept that my child is gone. I have carried this baby for twelve long months through difficulty and pain. Please, Lord, save my baby."

She wept openly.

(She quotes Mark 5:22–43.)

"You healed the woman with the issue of blood because of her faith. You raised Jairus' daughter from the dead. If You were willing and able then, You are still willing and able now. Please save my child."

The room fell silent.

Then she began singing.

"Don't Give Up on God by Deitrick Haddon."

One by one, the nurses stopped what they were doing.

The doctors exchanged uncertain glances.

Yet Fiona continued singing.

Her husband joined her.

Soon the entire room was listening.

Then suddenly,

Her water broke.

The medical staff rushed into action.

Hours later, two babies entered the world.

Twins.

A boy.

And a girl.

The doctors were stunned.

Every scan throughout the pregnancy had shown only one child..a boy.

Yet somehow there were two.

The baby girl appeared perfectly healthy.

The boy, however, shocked everyone.

He was alive.

Breathing.

Moving.

Yet his heart wasn't beating.

Every test confirmed the impossible.

No heartbeat.

But somehow he lived.

Nobody could explain it.

The Hiroto family didn't care.

They praised God for the miracle.

The boy was named Ezra Hiroto.

The girl was named Fabiola Hiroto.

And so began a story nobody could have imagined.

FEW YEARS LATER

THE HUNTER FAMILY

CHILD'S Play

Growing up, I watched families rise and fall.

I watched fairy-tale movies about handsome princes falling in love with ordinary girls.

Naturally, I convinced myself one would eventually find me.

Unfortunately, reality had other plans.

You see, I grew up in a house full of boys.

And every group of boys comes with that one handsome best friend.

The one you're absolutely not supposed to like.

The one who is way older than you.

The one who smiles once and suddenly you're planning your future wedding.

Yeah.

That happened to me.

I was in middle school.

He was almost done with high school.

A tiny detail I conveniently ignored.

I couldn't even hug him properly without feeling like my soul was leaving my body.

One day he bought me lip gloss.

My brothers teased me for weeks.

Meanwhile, I spent every day blushing like an idiot.

Looking back now...

I was embarrassing.

Anyway.

Everything was going perfectly until one unfortunate afternoon.

I was at his house, hanging out with his sister and her friends.

His father happened to walk past us and greeted everyone.

I was deep in thought.

Then I noticed something strange.

And before my brain could stop my mouth.

I said it.

Out loud.

YOUNG~MELODY:"Do men shake their behinds when they walk?"

Silence.

Complete silence.

Everyone stared at me.

Especially his sister.

I immediately sensed danger.

The Holy Spirit whispered,

"Run."

So I did.

I went home.

A few hours later my brothers arrived carrying a letter.

Normally that would've made me excited.

Not this time.

The funny thing about his letters was that he always wrote:

"No Address Because of Time."

As if he were some busy businessman.

This was the same boy who constantly wrote things like:

"You'll be the mother of my children."

Mind you...

I was nine years old.

Nine.

I wasn't even trusted to wash dishes properly.

What children was I supposed to raise?

Anyway.

The letter read:

"No Address Because of Time"

You're a bitch.

How could you slap my sister and insult my dad by saying he has a big ass?

You were the biggest mistake of my life. IT'S OVER.

If I find you anywhere near my house, I will beat you black and blue.

Although your church is here, you'd better find a new one.

You're as black as a lasta's butt."

My first reaction?

"WTF?"

First of all,

How was I supposed to find a new church?

I'd been attending that church since birth.

He didn't own it.

Secondly,

I never slapped his sister.

Thirdly,

I never said his dad had a big butt.

Okay...

His dad DID have one.

But that's not the point.

I simply asked a scientific question.

Respectfully.

Unfortunately, his father happened to be the only man walking by when I asked it.

How was that my fault?

I was innocent.

Completely innocent.

Also, how dare he insult my skin colour?

My mother was light-skinned.

My father was dark-skinned.

I landed somewhere in the middle.

I wasn't even that dark.

My brothers promised to protect me.

I decided to forgive him because I was a child of God.

No negativity.

No revenge.

Just peace.

So I went outside and sat with my grandmother and her friends.

Not because I wanted gossip.

Definitely not.

Then I heard singing.

When I looked up.

There he was.

Correction.

My ex.

Riding a bicycle with his friend.

Singing dramatically outside our gate.

The lyrics floated through the air.

"It's not fair...

It's not fair...

Wanditayisa nthawi iwe...

(You've wasted my time)

Ndimawelengela iwe..."

(I was counting on you...)

I stared.

"Jesus Christ..."

"What kind of madness is this?"

Of all places he could've chosen to perform his heartbreak concert...

He chose my house.

My grandmother's house.

If Granny noticed this nonsense, I was finished.

As he continued cycling around dramatically, all I could hear in my head was:

"Bad blood by Tyler swift ft Kendric Lamar..."

Days passed.

He kept trying to block my path after church.

He never succeeded.

Why?

Because I had bodyguards.

Also known as my brothers.

They loved me.

I was adorable.

Lovable.

Completely innocent.

At least that's what I choose to believe.

Chichewa Translation

Wanditayisa nthawi iwe – You've wasted my time.

Ndimawelengela iwe – I was counting on you.

One born a miracle,the other survives her first heartbreak.

Born without a heartbeat, Ezra survives what should have been impossible. For seven years, he dreams of the same girl. When fate finally brings Melody into his life, secrets, faith, and love collide in a story neither of them expected.

          CHAPTER 2: THE VISIT

THE HIROTO FAMILY

Fiona Hiroto worried constantly about her twins.

Especially Ezra.

Ever since birth, there had always been something different about him.

He didn't react to things the way other children did.

Joy.

Fear.

Sadness.

Anger.

Most emotions seemed distant to him.

The only exception was Fabiola.

Whenever she was close, Ezra became calmer.

She would place his hand against her chest and let him feel her heartbeat.

Somehow, that always worked.

It was as if she were his anchor.

Without her, Ezra often got into unnecessary fights.

Many children called him a vampire because of his "dead heart."

But Fiona refused to believe that.

He was her son.

And she would protect him no matter what.

One afternoon, a certain prophet came to visit.

(Doorbell rings)

FIONA: (opening the door)Papa!... Welcome. Please come in.

P. ISAIAH:Thank you, my daughter.

Fiona quickly welcomed him inside and prepared fruits, snacks, and soft drinks.

After settling down, the family gathered in the living room.

HAVIOR:Seems the heavens have smiled on us today.

To what do we owe this pleasure, Father?

You're a hard man to find these days.Yet here you are.

P. ISAIAH:I missed you, my children.Now let's stop acting so formal.Where are my grandchildren?

And where is my beloved daughter?

FIONA:What kind of father forgets to hug his beloved daughter first?

HAVIOR:Oh come on.He's my father.Me first.

P. ISAIAH:I see neither of you has changed.

Suddenly two voices echoed through the house.

EZRA & FABIOLA:Grandpa!

The twins came running.

Isaiah laughed and embraced them.

YOUNG~FABIOLA:Grandpa, why are you always away?

P. ISAIAH:Because, child, I go wherever God sends me.Someone has to preach the Gospel.

YOUNG~EZRA:When I grow up, I'll be just like you.I'll do God's work too.

YOUNG~FABIOLA:Me too!

YOUNG~EZRA:We're men.You should be your own woman.

YOUNG~FABIOLA:Oh come on.God uses both men and women.

P. ISAIAH:Fiona, I believe the children inherited these arguments from you and Havior.

FIONA:Not true.Maybe him.I've always been the sensible one.

HAVIOR:False.

YOUNG~EZRA:We weren't arguing.We were simply speaking to one another in a loud and angry voice.

YOUNG~FABIOLA:And what exactly do you call that, dummy?

YOUNG~EZRA:That reminds me.How did Mom and Dad meet?

Whenever Grandpa visits, he calls both of you his children.I get confused.

Do siblings marry each other?

The room fell silent.

Then everyone burst into laughter.

P. ISAIAH:No, child.Your father is my biological son.

Your mother is my goddaughter.I took Fiona in when she was sixteen after her parents died in a car accident.The two eventually fell in love.

Although...Fiona remains my favorite child.

HAVIOR:Dad!

The children laughed.

Fiona smiled proudly.

FIONA:Aww.Did you hear that, darling?

HAVIOR:Don't flatter yourself.

YOUNG~FABIOLA:I think I'm in love.

P. ISAIAH:You're twelve years old.You don't even know what love means.

YOUNG~EZRA:What is love?

FIONA:Well, sweetheart...Love is a strong feeling you have toward someone.

Someone you care about deeply.Someone you're willing to do almost anything for.

Ezra became quiet.

Then he asked softly.

YOUNG~EZRA:Will I ever be able to feel that?My friends say I'm a blood-sucking vampire because my heart is numb.Whenever I lose control, Fabiola calms me down.

But what if one day she leaves?Who will stop me from hurting people?

The room grew silent.

Fiona's heart ached.

FIONA:Come here, love.

She pulled him onto her lap.

FIONA:First of all...Find new friends.Those ones are terrible

Secondly...Don't believe everything they say.You are not a vampire.

You're human.Just like the rest of us.And the fact that you're sharing your worries with us

proves you can feel.Maybe not in the same way.But you can.And I promise you something.

One day your heart will beat.

Maybe it just needs a jump-start.

Until then, pray.

Leave the rest to God.

Ezra hugged her.

YOUNG~EZRA:I've seen people hug after emotional conversations.

I hope you felt something.

Fiona laughed through her tears.

FIONA:I did.

The family smiled.

For a moment, everything felt normal.

Then Isaiah's expression changed.

P. ISAIAH:Children.Take your gifts and play outside.

I need to speak with your parents.

The twins happily accepted their gifts and left.

Once the room was empty, Isaiah's smile vanished.

P. ISAIAH:I bring bad news.

HAVIOR:As usual.You always do.

FIONA:Havior.Let him speak.

P. ISAIAH:My son...I only tell people what God shows me.Not every revelation is pleasant.

But it is better to know the truth early.

HAVIOR:I understand.

Isaiah took a deep breath.

P. ISAIAH:Ezra was never supposed to survive.

Silence.

P. ISAIAH:A curse followed Fiona's bloodline.It began when her father refused a throne that came with dark rituals.

As punishment, he was told that his firstborn son would die.

Instead...He had a daughter.

Fiona.Your family's faith broke much of that curse.

But not completely.

FIONA:When I was younger, a strange woman kept telling me I was cursed.

She warned me again and again.

I ignored her.

HAVIOR:You said the curse was broken.So what does that have to do with Ezra?

P. ISAIAH:Because it came back.Fiona was supposed to die in the car accident.

Instead, her parents died.The curse waited.

Then it found another opportunity.

The room felt colder.

P. ISAIAH:Try to remember.What happened at the hospital before Ezra and Fabiola were born?

(The Sun by Frida Sundemo plays)

Fiona thought carefully.

Then her eyes widened.

FIONA:A nurse gave me an apple.A few moments later, the doctors said they couldn't hear my baby's heartbeat.

Isaiah nodded.

P. ISAIAH:Your children were poisoned.

Fiona gasped.

HAVIOR:What?

P. ISAIAH:Fabiola didn't suddenly appear.

She was always there.Hidden spiritually.

That is why the doctors never detected her.

If you had agreed to the C-section...

Fabiola would've died.

That was the plan.The same darkness that

 has haunted your family for generations tried

 to claim your children.But your prayers interfered.

Your faith changed the outcome.Fabiola became Ezra's anchor.

The curse no longer controls him.

But...Another revelation was shown to me.

The room became silent once more.

P. ISAIAH:Destiny calls alongside sorrow and joy.And when one of them stands at death's door...

Remember your Maker.

Fiona's face turned pale.

FIONA:No.No!I will not lose my children!

Tears streamed down her face.

But Isaiah said nothing.

He simply stood.

Turned.

And walked away.

Leaving behind a warning.

And a future nobody fully understood.