Paternal Instinct

Her long auburn hair
And pretty smile
Caught my attention
The moment I saw her.
She was sitting there alone,
Calm and quiet,
With the contented look
That pregnant women
Sometimes get
When they are at peace
With the process
They are going through.
Her radiant glow
Contrasted greatly
With the tint of sadness
I saw in her eyes.
She told me that she
And the baby’s father
Had gone separate ways,
But she had no regrets.
She was elated
About having a baby
And I could tell
She would surely make
An awesome mother.
Her love for the coming child
Was written all over her face.
What surprised me though
Was the power
Of the paternal instinct I felt.
Though it was not my child,
I wanted to take her in.
I didn’t want her to go
Through the pregnancy alone,
Or the child to be born
Without knowing a father.
I wanted to hold her,
To take care of her
And to make sure
There was someone there
For her and the baby.
Apparently I was not alone
In that reaction
For someone else had already
Stepped into that role.