1 The first years ...

We start with the parents of the heroine.

Allen and Ellie had to get together. He was Al. She was El. They were in the same class at college. Need more be said?

Al wasn't tall. At 168 centimetres, he looked shorter than he was. Probably because he was chubby. He wasn't the handsomest. But he had a great smile. And his humour was just impressive. His jokes were lame when others told them, or when he told them himself over the phone. But when he told the same jokes in person, he was hilarious. He had everyone in splits, even when the jokes were truly poor. There was something about him, about his face and his smile, that made people laugh.

El seemed tall. She was the same 168 centimetres, but she seemed taller. Though she was the same chubby. When she stood together with Al, at first glance, she seemed taller. She wasn't the prettiest, but there was something about her demeanour that caught the lookers' attention. Her smile was larger, in the sense that when she smiled her eyes curved the same as her lips, making it seem like all of her face was smiling. She was one of those who laughed lesser at Al's jokes because she wasn't able to as easily leap across the lameness, but she was always right by him. Her hair was her best feature. Long, straight, silky and soft. The kind of hair that all women would die for. And her skin, was just so soft. Al never could keep his hands off of her.

They were friends in the first couple of years of college. A couple through the final year. A week before the final exams, they announced their engagement. The day after the farewell was when they held the ceremony. They were married two weeks later. Everyone was invited.

Truth be told, she had more friends. There were many boys who liked her, who were saddened when she got together with Al. But nothing could be done.

Also, another truth be told, they were pregnant a month before the end of college. They were shocked by the news. Terrified, when they told their families. They received the harsh scoldings together. At the end of which, the families decided to get them married at the earliest. What else could be done?

The observant friends noticed that El was chubbier at her wedding, but they didn't make much of it. But when Al and El shared the news of the birth of their first son, seven months after the wedding, it was no secret anymore. But it didn't matter in the face of the great happiness.

And thus, Am was born. His name was Amsterdam. Am for short, just like his parents. Am had inherited the best of his parents. He was a chubby baby who grew into a fitter boy. He had his mother's hair, his father's smile and fortunately, a personality that was better than both of his parents'. He had heard his grandparents, and his uncles and aunts, and his parents' friends lament about how his parents didn't deserve a wonderful boy like him so many times, he had given up on trying to explain that it wasn't his choice. Would he have preferred better parents? Maybe. Would he have liked anyone else as his parents? Definitely not. He couldn't help it, he loved Al and El.

But they were so very odd. When Am was five, Al and El sat him down.

"Would you like a baby brother?" Al asked.

"Or a baby sister," El added.

"Sure," Al agreed. "Basically, a little sibling."

"So you won't be alone," El continued.

"So you can also experience having someone to care for," Al continued.

"And we'd be a bigger family," El added.

"You're already pregnant, aren't you," Am asked.

"Eh!" Al and El exclaimed together.

That was all the confirmation needed.

"Sure, I'd love it," Am said, with a sigh.

He didn't even bother asking why they wanted to make it seem like they were having a baby only after asking for his opinion. They just couldn't ever get the order right.

Al and El shared the news of their pregnancy with everyone. Of course, not forgetting to add that it was what Am wanted. Everyone knew the two too well. They all asked Am if this was true. Am's sigh gave them the answer. And they all sighed together at Al and El. Somehow, Am looked like a disappointed parent, and Al and El like the kids who got caught doing wrong.

After learning that it was a girl, they began searching for a name. They pulled Am in too. But he wasn't fooled.

"You've already got a name, haven't you?" He asked.

Al and El looked guiltily at each other, and nodded.

"Just tell me," Am said, sighing sadly.

"Emeralda," Al said.

"Em," El said.

Am smiled. His parents' fixation on names that made for easy nicknames was so cute.

"Em. I like it. My sister is going to be Em."

Looking at Am smile, Al and El were happy. The family felt more complete already. When Em arrived, it would be such a wonderful world.

And Em did arrive. Right on time. She was a healthy baby. Pretty already. It was clear to see that she would grow into a girl so pretty, many hearts would be lost to her. The most distinguishing feature, from the moment she was born, were her eyes. Big eyes that opened wide, and seemed endlessly curious.

Em was welcomed home with a grand party. Everyone was present. Everyone wanted to hold the little baby in their arms. And Em seemed to like it too. She smiled at everyone. At first, everyone let out squeals of delight. Em was such a cute little baby girl. But after hours, Em was still smiling like she was enjoying the attention. Some started to wonder. Why wasn't Em crying? Shouldn't a little baby cry more than she smiles?

Al and El agreed. Since everyone wanted to hear Em cry, they tried to make her cry. They couldn't bring themselves to hurt her physically. Short of that, they tried everything. They even tickled her endlessly. And Em only laughed. Her laughs were like stunning pearls. Everyone was hypnotised.

Finally, Am sighed disappointedly at the grown ups. He took his sister into his arms, held her lovingly, looked into her eyes.

"Everyone wants to hear you cry," he said.

As if she understood, Em burst out crying. It truly was an explosion. Her cries were piercing and loud and frightening. For a moment, everyone was appeased. The baby girl cried, so everything was fine. After the moment passed, they wanted her to stop. But try as they might, she wouldn't. Al and El swayed her gently in their arms, cooed to her, but to no avail. Her grandparents sung to her. Everyone present tried to calm her. But she wouldn't stop. El fed her. She stopped while drinking the milk, and continued immediately after, like there hadn't been a pause. In the end, everyone looked to Am, who had been patiently waiting for this. He took his sister into his arms, held her lovingly, looked into her eyes.

"Good girl. Enough now," he said slowly.

Em stopped crying immediately. Her little hands reached for his face, her fingers played with his nose.

Everyone was stunned. They figured, the brother and sister had a very special bond. And they were all happy about it.

It wasn't long before Al and El realised the bond wasn't exclusive to Am. Em was the same with them too. When they asked her to cry, she cried. When they asked her to stop, she stopped. And that was the end of their jealousy. But they couldn't shake the feeling, Em seemed to be playing with them like they were the little kids. It was surely their imagination. Wasn't it?

Am invited his friends from school over. Everyone showered all of their love on Em. Em was just so cute. She was growing pretty everyday. And she loved all of Am's friends. They all felt like Em was their baby sister.

Em was seven months old when she started crawling about the house. That was also the time when Al, El and Am realised another love of Em's.

One evening, Em crawled to the mirror in her parents' room. She sat up looking into the mirror. They had shown her mirrors before. She laughed and played with her reflection, like all babies did. But this was different. She was staring into the mirror, as if looking at herself, pleased with what she saw.

To test this, they brought in another mirror. Sitting between the two mirrors, Em's eyes were beaming like blindingly bright bulbs. She was smiling so wide her lips reached for her ears and her mouth opened wide as half her face. She was clapping excitedly, while looking between the two mirrors. The third mirror multiplied her joy threefold.

That weekend, they all went to the studio of a cousin of Al's. Brew was a popular interior designer. One corner of the large studio was converted into small cabin that held many, many different kinds of mirrors. Brew called it the corner of mirrors.

Em was so close to exploding from excitement in the corner of mirrors. It was as if she didn't have enough eyes to admire herself.

"She's definitely going to be an actor," Brew announced without a shred of doubt.

Al and El nodded, smiling proudly while imagining the future where thousands of people would rush over for a glimpse of their baby girl.

Am silently stared at the three grown ups. He shook his head sadly. At that moment, Em met his eyes, and smiled, almost as if knowingly.

"She's too smart," Am thought to himself. "Em's going to be a great philosopher that would be remembered for ages."

Em waved at everyone, as she continued to enjoy the mirrors.

Having their suspicions confirmed, Al and El began with the preparations for turning Em's room into a house of mirrors. As simple as it sounded, it wasn't. Brew came over, bringing along friends. The living room was turned into a war room, as numerous charts were strewn about the floor, filled with designs. Em sat to a side, quiet, staring at the grown ups with her big eyes. When Am returned from school, his friends came along. They all played with Em in the living room, because Em would't leave. While she played, one eye was always on the grown ups. The one big eye was plenty enough. The grown ups were all smitten by the pretty baby girl. As if fed with stimulants, they worked with greater vigour than they had in all of their lives.

The house of mirrors took four whole months to finish. At the half way, Em turned one. The party was hosted at home, because Em seemed to be in love with the living room. Everyone turned up with presents. Strangely though, Em was more interested in their faces than the presents. She wanted everyone to hold her up so she could gently pat their faces as she laughed hysterically. She was so pretty, it was criminal. Seeing her laugh, no one bothered about the presents either.

Of course, everyone learned about the house of mirrors, and offered their help in whatever way they could. And so, the house of mirrors became an all encompassing project. Which was why, what should have taken a lot longer was completed in four months.

When ready, the house of mirrors was such that from any point in the room, all of the mirrors showed Em. Made it seem like she was the whole world. And Em was delighted. She laughed and clapped relentlessly until she was drained of all strength, and she fell asleep. The floor was entirely covered under a plush carpet that was as soft as her bed, so she could fall anywhere without getting hurt the slightest. Seeing her happy with the room filled everyone with a sense of achievement. Brew took pictures of the room and saved it into his secret folder of personal achievements. These were works he was immensely proud of, and wouldn't allow to be replicated. Em's room was right at the top.

Ever since the house of mirrors was completed, it was the room where the family spent most of the time. Al, El and Am didn't take a liking to the mirrors as easily as Em. They needed a lot of time. It was creepy being in a room filled with so many of themselves. After months, they had gotten as comfortable with it as they could, and were still short of Em by a wide margin.

Em was special, they decided.

Not long after her second birthday, they realised just how special.

The morning after a rainy evening, Em caught a cold that quickly spiralled into a scorching fever. It was worse by the second day. Al and El took her to a hospital. Am wanted to come along, but Al convinced him Em would be fine after eating a few tablets, and maybe getting a shot. And so, Am went to school, but he was distracted all day. And when he told his friends Em was at the hospital, they were all equally distracted.

At the hospital, Al and El's suspicions were confirmed. It was just a regular fever. The immune system of babies were still developing, so such fevers were quite common. But, that wasn't all.

"Mr and Mrs Sauyer, can I have a minute of your time," the doctor requested.

Dr Adi Vesham was in his thirties, and an attending doctor in the paediatric department. That was testament to how good a doctor he was. He was a handsome man, even under the dark circles and the early wrinkles. His passion shone through so bright, nothing could keep it under. And that was a comforting sight for the worried parents of the young patients.

Dr Adi preferred being called by his first name, mostly because no one got his surname right. He seriously couldn't understand what was so difficult about pronouncing two syllables correctly, but whatever. Everyone has their foolishness.

Dr Adi led Al and El to his office. Em was smiling as she lay asleep in El's arms.

"I would like to recommend some more tests. For Em. I want to be honest. Might I?"

Al and El were confused by the question. Was that really a question to be asked with such hesitation? Wasn't it expected of all doctors to be honest?

Understanding their thoughts from the expressions on their faces, Adi continued.

"Right now, all I have is a suspicion. The blood tests showed some anomalies. Right now, it would seem the anomalies are a result of the cold and the fever. Nothing to worry about. But, it could also mean something else. I just want to be sure. Which is why I want to conduct some more tests. I would like your permission."

Al and El looked worried. They looked at the happily sleeping Em as they asked the question on their minds.

"She's fine, isn't she?"

Adi wanted to answer yes. He wasn't a parent himself, but he was the guardian of a child not yet of six years. He understood how Al and El would be feeling.

"Right now, I can't say. I'm sorry."

Adi was sincere with the apology. Al and El shook their heads as they smiled. They agreed to the tests. Adi personally took another vial of blood, but Em didn't make a sound, didn't even stir.

"Brave girl," Adi praised the sleeping Em with a smile.

Adi said he would call them in the morning with the results. He asked them to relax and have a restful night.

Al and El were convinced rest was the last thing they would have tonight. Unfortunately, they were so wrong.

Am returned home with his friends earlier than Al and El. When Al told the children it was just a fever, they were all relieved smiles. Em had woken by then too. They all sat in the living room, playing all evening. Em had everyone laughing so hard, the first half of the day was entirely forgotten. But the flush of her face became more evident as daylight dimmed. She took her medicines and fell asleep in El's arms. Tonight, she was going to be sleeping with her parents.

In the morning, an unsuspecting Am went to school. Al and El were surprised that they had actually had a restful night. They blamed Em for it, with a smile of course. But from the moment they woke, they were waiting worried for the call from the hospital. It was after ten when the call came. It was Dr Adi himself.

"Mr Sauyer," Adi began.

"Al, please," Al cut in.

"Al," Adi conceded. "Could you come to the hospital? With your wife? Also bring along Em."

Al and El were worried as they drove over. Em was unconcerned like a two year old should be. She was smiling at everything that went past outside the window. It was a thirty minute drive to the hospital. Another fifteen minute wait before they saw Adi.

They were in Adi's office. Sitting across the table. Looking worried and scared.

Adi looked serious.

"I'm sorry," Adi apologised before explaining. "The results weren't comforting. But I cannot say anything yet with certainty. We need to conduct some more tests. At the earliest. Would today be okay? They would take time. You might have to stay at the hospital all day."

"That's fine," Al answered immediately.

"Yeah," El agreed. "We'll be here. Get started right away."

Adi nodded. He called for a nurse, who was an old woman with a gentle smile, who Em took a liking to immediately. As the nurse stretched her hands, Em fell into them smoothly. Adi left with the nurse.

Al and El waited by, separated by a glass wall from beyond which they stood looking at their daughter smiling even as Adi and the nurse conducted the tests. In the afternoon, Al picked up Am outside the school gates and drove him to the hospital. Along the way, he explained to Am what the doctor said. Am was at first furious his parents kept it from him yesterday, but he quickly got over it. Em was more important. They ate in the hospital's cafe, while they waited worriedly. Em was returned after dinner, when all the tests were done with.

"I'll rush the results," Adi said. "Should be ready by morning, at the latest. I'll give you a call immediately."

They were all in Adi's office. Em was asleep in El's arms. Maybe it was the hospital, or maybe the worry. Em looked ill, like the fever wasn't gone yet. She wasn't burning up, but she was hot enough. Al and El and Am looked worried. Looking at them, Adi knew what they were going to say before they did.

"Can we wait?" Al asked.

Adi sighed. The words were on all of their faces. And he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

"You can have my office," Adi offered. "The couch opens into a bed. The children can have it. We can pull the chairs together."

Al smiled appreciatively. "We'll be fine," he said. "Sorry, for taking over your office."

"It's fine," Adi replied, brushing away the apology. "I'll push a little more for the results."

El and the children were on the couch. Al lay as best as he could in the chairs. Al and El stayed up all night, looking at each other. No amount of tiredness could bring them sleep. But they did have smiles, even if they were smiles of sorrow. They were telling each other through their eyes, they would be fine.

Adi did as he said he would. He apologised to the labs as he hovered. The sun was still below when the results were ready. Even for the hospital standards, it was an astonishing speed. Adi read the results in the hallway. He went weak in his knees as his suspicions were confirmed in the worst possible way. He allowed himself a while to accept, and then walked into his office.

Al and El got to their feet immediately. At that very moment, Am sat up awake. The three pairs of eyes stared at Adi, and at the papers in his hands.

They all sat down at the table, before Adi shared the news.

"I'm terribly sorry," Adi said in a steady voice. "Em has a very rare condition. A genetic disorder. Let me explain from the start."

The first blood test had revealed abnormalities in the blood. The levels of antibodies in the blood were too high. Adi wasn't ready to attribute it to the cold, or to an infection. Further tests revealed that the levels of antibodies were even higher than assumed. And it wasn't as simple as the blood. The root cause was in her very genes.

"It is an extremely rare genetic disorder," Adi explained. "Only a handful of cases have been recorded. The antibodies in her blood get excited at the slightest stimulus, and indiscriminately attack her own cells. The slightest stimulus could set them off, and it could end with her death."

He paused, to let the words sink in. And then, he spoke the non-medical words that best explained the situation.

"Em has a ticking bomb in her blood, that could go off at any moment. The smallest change in the environment, the slightest excitement, could set her off. In lay man's words. I am truly sorry to be saying this, but there is no cure. All we can do, is manage her body's response to stimulus. And that can be done. Suppressants easily available would do just fine. But we have to be accepting that this is an irreversible condition."

Adi stopped. It wasn't a pause. And he hadn't reached the end of what he had to say.

Al, El and Am heard that. They saw Adi's eyes frozen at a point behind them. They slowly turned around, to see Em sitting up.

Al, El and Am saw Em beaming at them, like she always did.

Adi saw something else in her eyes. An understanding. He could almost hear her eyes telling him it was okay, like she was consoling him. He laughed at the absurdity of the thought.

But the discussion ended. The family needed time to accept the terrible reality. Adi needed to discuss with other doctors. More than anything, they all needed sleep. Everyone went home.