True Love’s Kiss Grants Babies

Art by Samantha Yepez Ramirez

When you were younger, do you remember questioning where babies come from? I mean, how can human life… just form? Being naturally curious, it was a topic that fascinated me as a child. I’m not entirely sure about how I reached this conclusion, but I eventually started believing that people got pregnant once they “kissed the bride.” However, due to this, I also started questioning people’s love toward one another.

Being blessed with a good memory of my childhood, I recall attending a few weddings, or at least knowing of who was getting married. I would be patiently seated with my parents  awaiting for the grand moment, where the true ceremony would commence. Seeing someone walk down the aisle was always so thrilling, knowing that it was only a few moments before the gift of life would be received. However, hearing the spouse and groom’s vows was always my favorite part. It was the purest and truest declaration of love, the moment where everyone could comprehend the extent of admiration they had toward one another, and where I would subconsciously decide if their words were powerful enough for life. (For the record, I’ve never been to a wedding where the groom had more meaningful vows).

Finally, the moment reaches where the officiant utters the words, “You may now kiss the bride.” In the exact moment that their lips would touch, the gift of a child would be granted. Thinking about it now, this made absolutely no logical sense, but I was extremely firm on this belief.

I would continue to wait to see the newlyweds a few months later, excited to see the progression of the wife’s belly. However, most frequently, she would not end up pregnant. This posed the question, what happened to the baby? Well, in my very advanced brain, I came up with the idea that only those who truly loved each other would end up pregnant. I wouldn’t say I was particularly judgemental as a child, but I began questioning why people remained together. I mean, if you know you don’t love each other due to no baby, then why are you willingly still pretending?

This also raised the question of those who got pregnant a few years after marriage, but I just believed that their love for each other eventually reached the sufficient amount needed for a baby. However, as a child, I always thought that I would never want kids when I grew up, which makes my thoughts even more confusing…

There were many loopholes in the beliefs I had when I was kid; we all grow up being naive, and believing the little things that our parents tell us. Yet, I think that’s the beautiful thing about being a child, being willing to trust others so easily. I now know my theories on pregnancy are no longer true, but I like to think in a different universe, it may be possible.