𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐔𝐌 (𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑦𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛)

𝐹𝑖𝑓𝑡𝑦 𝑆𝑖𝑥

The baby came quickly and without complications. His cries sprouted almost immediately, ringing my eardrums so much they hurt.

"Here we go," Jack gently cooed as he passed the little thing into my arms.

Blood and vernix covered the baby's body, making it difficult to get a solid grip on him. My throat constricted, but forced myself to retain my composure. I'd dealt with far worse, but for some reason seeing a live birth sent my head spinning.

"He's so beautiful," Betty sighed tiredly and leaned against David.

I wouldn't have called the baby beautiful. He looked more like an alien than a human with his wrinkly skin and constipated expression. Betty must've been delirious from the pain.

Betty's after birth went smoothly as well, and the placenta came out easily. After cutting the cord, David gently lowered Betty onto the bed. I handed the newborn over to his mother and she laid him on her bare chest.

✯✯✯

Me and Jack stood in the hallway cleaning the blood and various other fluids off our arms. The baby had quieted down and the house was silent once again.

"You did great," he told me sincerely.

"Thanks," I smiled lightly. "I'll be sure to cross this off my bucket list."

"Delivering a baby was on your bucket list?" Jack chuckled.

"I had high expectations from life before the apocalypse hit," I joked.

We fell into a silence and I leaned my back against the wall.

"I miss you," Jack spoke softly.

I looked into his eyes but said nothing.

"I shouldn't have done what I did in that gift shop," he went on. "And not talking to you is driving me crazy."

I paused for a moment to collect my thoughts.

"I miss you too," I admitted.

But not the way that you miss me, I wanted to say.

He took a step closer and brushed my hair away from my face, tracing my cheek with his thumb.

"Jack," I started.

A loud thump sounded from inside Betty's room and the baby started to wail. Jack drew back his hand and pursed his lips.

"What now?" Jack muttered.

I exhaled in relief and followed him into the room, silently thanking a higher power for their intervention.

My face fell as the sight of Betty's limp body came into view. She lay motionless on the side of the bed, a thick puddle of red staining the bed and her nightgown.

"What the hell happened?!" Jack rushed to Betty's side.

"I-I don't know I just thought she fell asleep!" David explained hysterically.

The baby lay on the bed screaming it's lungs out, but David was only focused on his wife. As Jack tried to wake Betty, I grabbed a small blanket and went over to the infant.

"Shhhhh," I placed the baby on the blanket and wrapped him in a swaddle, nervously glancing over to his mother.

Careful to support his head, I lifted the baby into my arms and moved away from the chaos. My stomach was in knots and I began to sweat.

"Why isn't she waking up?!" David shrieked.

Jack ignored him and pushed Betty onto her back. As he began to do chest compressions, David broke into hysterics.

The baby was calmer now, but still fussy about the noise around him. I didn't want to leave. I couldn't. I told Betty I would stay.

As the minutes went on, my vision grew blurry with hot tears. Sweat dripped down Jack's face and his compressions grew weaker. David fell to the floor and buried his face in his hands.

Jack stood up, both defeat and grief present on his face. I stifled a sob and held the baby a little tighter. Betty wasn't going to wake up.

"Why are you stopping?!" David cried.

"She's lost too much blood. I'm sorry," the doctor in Jack came forward as he delivered the news in a solemn but composed manner.

"You son of a bitch!" David lunged forward and pushed Jack against the wall. "Save her!"

"I can't!" Jack shoved David away. He pulled out his blade and a wave of nausea came over me.

"Don't you fucking dare," David seethed.

"David, I know you're in pain," Jack said calmly. "But if I don't do this, everyone in this room will be put in danger. Think of your son."

David looked in my direction. I saw disdain flash in his eyes as his gaze lowered to the bundle in my arms. For a moment, I thought David was going to attack Jack again. Instead, exhaustion overcame him and he crumpled to the floor in a fit of agonizing wails.

The door suddenly creaked and I turned to see Rose peek her head inside. Smoking and drinking every day aged her, but she didn't seem to care. Each time I saw her she appeared ten years older.

Rose took in the room and grimaced.

"Guess I'm a little late," she remarked.

The baby began to wail again. Anger boiled in my stomach and I scowled.

"Get out," I said coldly.

Rose took one look at me and decided not to test my patience.

Once she was gone, I peered down at the baby I held. I recognized his hungry cries, but there was nothing I could do.

We needed formula.

✯✯✯

(𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 7/28/21)

𝑹𝑰𝑷 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 👻💀☠️👼🏻🤰🏼