Chapter 7 Smiles heal me

• " Whenever you feed her, you must burp her like this. Do you understand?"
• " I understand perfectly."
• " Very well, when it's time to change her diapers, I will explain how to do it and also how you should bathe her."
• " Okay, thank you, grandma. I don't know what I would do without you."
• " We are in this together, I would never leave you alone."
• " I appreciate it very much, I do."
• " Don't worry my dear, we will get through this baby together. You and I, always."
• " Always."
• I feel like the luckiest woman, even though my parents are not present. I have a wonderful woman by my side. My grandmother always supports me in all my decisions, she knows me better than anyone else.
• I am always responsible for their actions. And all of that is because she taught me to have values.
• When the time comes to learn how to put on a diaper, it is not what I expected. Mia makes a mess in her diaper. My grandmother can't stop laughing at my face, according to her, I made the funniest gestures in the world.
• " Well done Mia, I hope you don't make a mess next time."
• " Get used to it, there will be many times when she will make a mess and sometimes it will be worse than this time."
• I sigh after hearing what she said, while she laughs at me.
• " It's time to sleep, it's very late. Change her clothes and put on pyjamas so she feels more comfortable."
• " Okay, I will."
• I pick up Mia and take her to my room. I grab a white pyjama and leave it on the bed. I change her clothes and once I finish, I pick her up again to feed her and then make her fall asleep.
• Instinctively, my body sways gently as a way to lull her. I softly sing that song called "Lavender's Blue" that my mother used to sing before she died.
• By the end of the song, she has already fallen asleep. I lay her on the bed and place some pillows around her, then give her a gentle kiss on her head.
• " Sweet dreams, little Mia."
• I smile like a fool, I feel really happy to have her with me.
• " You're going to do a great job, I'm sure of it my dear."
• " Do you think so?"
• " Of course I do."
• " I'm afraid of failing."
• " It's human to make mistakes, no one receives a book with all the instructions to take care of a baby. You learn everything by instinct and also with the help of someone with experience."
• " You're right, grandma."
• " Let's rest, it's late and you should always take advantage of when Mia is sleeping to rest. Your nights won't be as peaceful as you think."
• " Okay, see you tomorrow."
• " See you tomorrow my dear."
• Throughout the night, I can't sleep well, I keep checking if Mia is still breathing. I also fed her a few times and, of course, changed her diaper.
• The next day, as soon as I wake up, I realize that Mia is already awake and she smiles at me.
• " Good morning, little Mia. Mommy is going to change your clothes and then get ready to register you. Is that okay?"
• I get up and pick her up, I go out with her and approach my grandmother, who is preparing a delicious coffee.
• " Good morning, grandma."
• " Good morning, my dear."
• " Say good morning, Mia."
• " Good morning, Mia."
• " Did you wake up a long time ago?"
• " Yes."
• " Do you think you can help me with her first bath?"
• " Of course."
• My grandmother explains to me that I should bathe her with warm water since we are entering the middle of winter and she would catch a cold if I bathed her with cold water.
• Then I take off her clothes and diaper, and immerse her body except for her head in the water. Mia starts crying after feeling the water on her body.
• " Calm down, sweetheart, I'll finish soon. You'll see."
• " Be careful not to drop her."
• " Okay."
• I do as my grandmother tells me and as soon as I finish, I take Mia out of the water and wrap her in a towel. Then I start dressing her and once she's ready, I hand her over to my grandmother to take care of while I get ready.
• Once I finish getting ready, I return to them for breakfast.
• "She has already eaten," my grandmother says.
• I am about to respond when the doorbell rings. I look at my grandmother and she nods her head. I approach the door and open it slightly, it is Mrs. Clarisa who has arrived.
• "Mrs. Clarisa, good morning. Please, come in."
• "Good morning, Zoe."
• "Good morning, young lady."
• "Good morning, ma'am."
• "Please, call me grandma. I prefer it."
• "Of course, you can call me Clarisa."
• "Very well."
• "Are you ready to register Mia?"
• "First, have breakfast. I have prepared some delicious Spanish-style style potato omelettes. Then we will go."
• "Thank you, grandma."
• "Thank you very much."
• After finishing our breakfast, we gather our things and get into Mrs. Clarisa's car.
• I feel anxious, as today will be the day Mia becomes my legal daughter.
• Who wouldn't be anxious about that?
• I will have a daughter after all.
• "We have arrived, are you sure about what you're doing, Zoe?"
• "I am, Mrs. Clarisa. I am more than sure."
• "Very well, then let's go."
• I feel like the whole journey is very short, I can't help but look at Mia sleeping in my arms and before I know it, we have arrived.
• We enter the place to begin the process of registering Mia as my legitimate daughter. I know it is crazy, but I am more than willing to make this craziness a reality.
• We wait for our turn, several parents also attend that day to register their children, just like us. I think about the fact that it is only a few minutes away from everything becoming real.
• "Zoe, it's our turn. Let's go."
• I look at Mrs. Clarisa after she snaps me out of my daydream. We walk over to the desk of the fat, bearded man.