The Devastating Truth

Chapter 12- Babies and Announcements

                I don’t remember the hospital being this far away. I glanced at the clock on the dashboard and it had only been ten minutes since we pulled out of our driveway. Then it sunk in… today wasn’t going to be fun and simple at all. It was going to be hell. And for some reason, I didn’t remember what it felt like to be in labor. It had been almost six years since I had had Ryder. I wish I would’ve reminded myself how bad it was going to hurt. From the time I walked outside to get into the car, to now, everything seemed to jump forward. I was in pain, and it was nothing like it had been just an hour ago when I woke up.

                I laid my head against the seat and my eyes were closed. I didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t feel like this fifteen minutes ago. I reached over and grabbed Zayn’s hand, simply to reassure me that everything would be okay.  I didn’t take pain well, so not only would this be a long day for me, but it’d be a long day for my husband and the doctors.

                “It’ll be okay, baby. We’ll be there soon. Zayn said, realizing my pain and attempting to calm me down.

                “Sure it will…” I forced out through clenched teeth. “Oh… Can you call Taylor?” I asked him. Since my mom couldn’t be here with me, I promised Taylor she could stay with me in the room. She and Louis would be the godparents.

                He dialed her number and then put the phone on speaker while it rang. Right when I thought it was going to go to voicemail, a very tired sounding Taylor answered. “Zayn? Is everything okay? You never call me…”

                “Uh I’m sorry if I woke you up, but Ellie said to call you. We’re on our way to the hospital.”

                “Oh my god! I’ll meet you there.” Without another word, she hung up. Knowing her, she’d probably beat us there.

                “We almost there?” I asked after Zayn put his phone up.

                “Hopefully. Just stay calm…”

                “I am calm! For crying out loud… I just asked a simple question!” Before I could yell anymore, another contraction hit me. “Ugh!” I screamed.

                “Should I just stay quiet?” My terrified husband asked.

                All I could do was nod.

                “Ellie Malik.” I told the receptionist when we walked into the hospital. “I’ve been having contractions for about an hour and my water broke not even twenty-five minutes ago…” I managed to say. She grabbed a clipboard and then out of nowhere, a young woman pushing a wheelchair came over to me. She practically pushed me into the chair and we were halfway down the hall, with Zayn running behind us, when I heard a familiar voice scream. “Ellie!” Then I hear heels clanking down the tiled floor after me. And I wasn’t for sure, but I think I heard Louis mumble a “sorry” to the people in the waiting room that no doubt had their eyes on Taylor.

                “Ellie? Are you okay? Did I miss anything?” she asked when she caught up with the nurses.

                I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m fine… right now at least.”

                “Oh so you’re not going to yell at her?” Zayn asked. “I see how it is…” he mumbled under his breath.

                “You’re the one that caused this, okay? Deal with it, babe.”