Beginning of a new journey…

“Everything seems to be okay. Your baby should be born around the beginning of May”

The eight months pregnant woman let out a sigh of relief as she heard these blessed words the doctor had just uttered. Her husband besides her, she listened as the doctor continued, unable to think about anything else than the little life growing in her. Her little daughter was alright and that was what all mattered to her.

Her pregnancy had been a hard one, even without all the problems around her. 23 days after her marriage, her father-in-law had died, creating a whole confusion in the family and the fact that she had her first check up with the doctor for ‘confirmation’ didn’t help either. The newly wedded wife was already a soon-to-be mother; with such a great responsibility on her shoulders. She was to give birth to the heir of the family, which was certainly not an easy task. And of course, not everyone was as happy as her when they had heard of the news.

Her marriage had been a quick one. Believe it or not, everything had been scheduled in one day and she had gotten married in the afternoon. Some had thought it was a shotgun marriage, which was a disgrace at that time and well, still is in our society, and that was actually the reason why her husband wasn’t really pleased with the news at first, but of course, that changed with time. There also had been ‘advice’ of having a abortion from ‘closed’ ones for this burden wasn’t to be taken by such a young wife and because of this, she had even fallen ill during the first weeks of her pregnancy. The hardship didn’t end her for at 5 months, she had nearly lost her baby again, while falling down the stairs. The fear she had felt while hearing the news at first hadn’t yet disappeared that yet another one had crop up; that of losing the one she held so dear in her heart.

Again, she felt relieved now as she was sure that her little girl was fine. Soon, she would be able to hold her in her arms and cuddle her as she wanted. Wanting to celebrate, the two of them… no… the three of them, went out to eat, savouring every single moments that went by. But Fate had decided otherwise, for a sudden change had come in their lives, giving them no time to prepare themselves.

That same night, her water broke, without her even realising it. Feeling that something was strange, she had quickly told her husband about it and had been transported to the hospital immediately. All preparations for the perfect arrival of the child had been forgotten, to give way to worries and anxiety. She was to give birth, in the late afternoon, or at least, that was what she had been told.

Morning had come and she had still not eaten anything. Well, she hadn’t been allowed to. Nurses had told her that everything would be alright but there was already a big surprise waiting for her when the doctor came for the regular checkup; nobody had realised that her baby was by now ready to enter this world, quietly, away from the eyes of others. Quickly, the scenery had changed and she was lying down, with nurses and doctors around her.

But then, problems never came alone, for yet another complication had cropped up, or was it two. Somehow, her strength alone was not enough to give birth to the child, and at the same time, the umbilical cord or the child had already coiled around her neck, suffocating her. Ignoring all her pain, she didn’t realize when she was over until everybody left her alone, to take care of the baby.

Someone helping her to get to her room, she kept thinking of what had just occurred. All babies’ were supposed to cry when they were born but hers hadn’t. They had already returned all the baby clothes’ she had given them and no one had come about to tell her about it. Some hours later, someone had come and practically shouted that the baby of the woman at the back had died, not even considering the feelings of the new mothers here but our new mother’s eyes had gone wide, for she was the only woman at the back.

Tears rolling on her cheeks, she couldn’t help but feel such emptiness as the day passed, not even able to see the last remains of her daughter. Nobody could make her eat or anything for her life had already ended with that of the little being. Her cousin, working at the hospital, had gone to find the persons in charge to know exactly what had happened. That was probably the thing that completely changed these 8 months from hell to complete bliss, for her little baby, although weak, still was breathing and alive.

Why these people had said those harsh words, nobody had asked, for now only the little one lying in the incubator had arrived. The little princess had arrived, and in such an unforgettable way. Her heart was weak and she was underweight, but kicking alive.

Again, that didn’t end all the problems for from the day she was born till she was around 6 or 7, she had been an unhealthy child; getting an infection when she was 1 day old or having problems in her digestive system, nothing prevented her from growing up happily. She was demanding and always had to be taken care of. Weekly trips to the doctors were unusual and medicines were a must. But then, her smile was everything to her parents. The little miss took all their time, which was somehow why they had never thought of having a second child. She was enough, their walking treasure and 18 years have passed since then and nothing had changed. Still attention seeking as ever and still needs to be taken cared of.

“There are some things that simply would never change”, such were the words of her mother, sighing as she read those last lines.

Shouting back at her, she said: “Mom, I’m never writing those things again!”

*atchoum*

Goddamn flu!

~ by Nussaibah on June 11, 2008.