Chapter 4 A Short-Lived Happiness

The sound of a gentle lullaby filled the small apartment, barely louder than the soft hum of the ceiling fan. Dotan swayed slowly, his bare feet moving rhythmically on the cold tiled floor as he cradled Adriana in his arms. "Shhh, my little flower... Daddy is here; Daddy loves you, and Mummy loves you too," he whispered, his voice warm with love. The tiny baby wriggled, her soft whimpers turning into little sighs as she nestled against his chest. Luci, watching from the bed, smiled. "You're getting better at this." Dotan chuckled, pressing a kiss to Adriana's forehead.

"Well, I have the best teacher." Luci rolled her eyes. "You mean Adriana or me?" Dotan grinned. "Both." Adriana's tiny fingers clutched his shirt, and Dotan's heart melted all over again. He had never imagined that something so small could fill such a big space in his heart. Every night, he was the one who rocked Adriana to sleep. Every morning, he was the first to check if she was still breathing. Fatherhood had changed him. "Here, let me take her," Luci said, standing up. Dotan shook his head. "No, I've got her. You rest." Luci sighed, watching him as he gently placed Adriana into her crib, tucking the tiny blanket around her. "You spoil her, you know," Luci whispered, coming to stand beside him. Dotan smirked. "Of course. She's my princess." Luci leaned against him, and he wrapped an arm around her. "She's lucky to have you," she murmured. Dotan kissed the top of her head. "No, I'm the lucky one." But luck was a fragile thing. And sometimes, happiness was only meant to last a moment. Dotan's life as a cab driver was far from easy. The long hours, the rude passengers, the days when he barely made enough money to buy baby formula, it was exhausting. Yet, every evening, when he stepped through that door and saw Luci's smile when Adriana reached for him with her tiny hands, he knew he had everything he needed. Their small apartment was old, the paint peeling in places, but it was filled with warmth. Luci kept it spotless, filling the air with the scent of freshly cooked food, while Adriana's giggles turned the worn-out furniture into a palace. Dotan never let his struggles show. But Luci saw them. One evening, as he sat at the tiny kitchen table, rubbing his temples, Luci placed a hand over his. "Dotan," she said gently. "You're tired." He forced a smile. "Just had a long day, that's all." She tilted her head. "Did you eat anything at all?" "I grabbed some snacks," he lied. Luci sighed, moving to sit on his lap. "Talk to me." He exhaled, running a hand down her back. "I just... I want to give you both more. A bigger house, a better life." Luci cupped his face. "We don't need 'more,' Dotan. We have enough." Dotan looked into her eyes, his chest tightening. "But what about Adriana? Shouldn't she have more than this?" Luci smiled. "She has love. That's more than most children in rich homes." Dotan chuckled, brushing his lips against hers. "How did I get so lucky with you?" "You drove a taxi to the right street," she teased. They laughed, the sound filling the tiny kitchen. Dotan held her closer, closing his eyes. If only he had known that moment would be one of their last happy ones. The next morning, Dotan woke up to Adriana's soft coos. He grinned, stretching. "Someone's an early riser today." Luci was already up, changing Adriana's diaper. She glanced at him. "You were snoring." Dotan sat up, rubbing his face. "Oh no.. that's not true. I'm as silent as a cat." Luci smirked. "A cat that sounds like a motorcycle." Dotan chuckled, walking over to kiss Adriana's tiny nose. "Morning, princess." The baby squealed, kicking her little feet. Dotan sighed, looking at the clock. "I should get going." Luci frowned. "Can't you stay a little longer?" He kissed her forehead. "I wish I could. But more rides mean more money." Luci hesitated. She didn't know why, but something felt off. She watched as he put on his jacket and grabbed his car keys. Her stomach twisted. "Dotan..." She bit her lip. "Maybe you should stay home today." Dotan paused, looking at her. "Why?" She shrugged, feeling foolish. "I don't know. I just... I have a bad feeling." Dotan chuckled, walking over to pull her into a hug. "Hey. I'll be fine, and I'll be back soon, I promise." Luci rested her head against his chest, closing her eyes. Something felt wrong. But she didn't stop him. She should have stopped him. The sun was just beginning to set when Dotan's car sped down the main road. He had one last passenger, a man in a suit, impatiently checking his watch. "Can you go faster?" the man snapped. Dotan forced a polite smile. "Sir, I can't risk an accident-" He sped off so his passenger would meet up with his appointment. Just then, a truck came out of nowhere. Dotan's heart stopped. The headlights blinded him. The tyres screeched. The impact was sudden, violent and unforgiving. The cab spun out of control, glass shattering, metal twisting like paper. For a moment, there was silence. Then nothing. People gathered around the scene; some dialled the emergency while others took pictures of the terrible scene. Luci was feeding Adriana when the phone rang. She wiped her hands and picked it up. "Hello?" A voice she didn't recognize spoke. "Is this Luci Mechanzi?" "Yes." There was a pause. "Ma'am... your husband was in an accident." Luci's world stopped. Her breath caught in her throat. "What?" "He was in a collision with a truck. He's at St. Mary's Hospital-" Luci didn't wait to hear the rest. She grabbed Adriana, her heart pounding. No. No. No. Not Dotan. Not him. She ran to Miguel's house, practically screaming for him. Miguel opened the door, alarmed. "What's wrong?" Tears ran down her face. "Dotan-hospital-accident-" Miguel's eyes widened. "What? Get in the car." The drive was a blur. Luci clutched Adriana, her mind spinning. "This can't be happening," she whispered over and over. It couldn't. Not when they were just getting started. They burst into the hospital, Luci gasping for breath. "Dotan Mechanzi!" she cried to the nurse. "Where is he?" The nurse hesitated. Luci grabbed her arm. "Please! My husband!" The nurse's eyes softened. "Follow me." Luci's legs felt like lead as she followed, her heart slamming against her ribs. She stepped into the ICU... and froze. Dotan lay on the hospital bed. Pale and unmoving. Machines beeped around him. A doctor turned to her, his face grim. Luci's knees buckled. "Mrs. Mechanzi... I'm so sorry." Her vision blurred. The world collapsed. And then-she screamed.