Nobody moved.

The words on the back of the photograph echoed through the silent room.

“He’s Not The First.”

The doctor slowly lowered the picture.

“I’ve seen this birthmark before,” he whispered.

The father looked confused.

“What do you mean?”

The doctor walked to an old cabinet and unlocked a dusty file box.

Inside were hospital records dating back more than twenty years.

He pulled out a faded patient file.

Attached to it was another photograph.

Everyone gasped.

The baby in the picture had the same birthmark.

The same eyes.

The same hospital bracelet.

Even the same room.

Only the date was different.

The nurse whispered,

“This can’t be real.”

Suddenly the newborn laughed.

For the very first time.

Everyone turned toward the bassinet.

The baby wasn’t looking at his family.

He was staring at the hospital window.

A white bird landed on the windowsill.

It tapped the glass three times.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Then it flew away.

The father rushed to the window.

Outside, another paper airplane rested on the ledge.

He picked it up.

Inside was an old key.

Wrapped around it was a note.

“The rooftop remembers.”

The doctor looked toward the hospital roof.

His face turned pale.

“We sealed that place years ago.”

The lights flickered.

The baby smiled again.

Nobody noticed…

The old photograph had changed.

A new shadow had appeared behind the baby’s crib.

To Be Continued…