Madison Grimes

57

The only thing that's been filling the walls of the sanctuary for hours now has been my loud screams, Hector checking on me every few seconds, and Daryl's reassuring words.

"The baby is crowing! It's time, you need to push!" Hector exclaims as Merle looks at his brother, horror on his face. I just squeeze Daryl's hand before blinking two times, then looking at the girls.

"Get them outta 'ere, we don't want them ta see this." Merle nods fast before rushing them all out of the room. I look at Daryl and see him giving me a big smile, where I just squeeze his hand.

"God, I miss medicine!" I yell as I push.

"Didn't you say you were in the military?" I hear Hector try to joke.

"Be lucky you're the one delivering this baby or else you'd be dead!" The jokes stop there as I push again.

"You're almost there! We just need one more push!" After hours of active labor, I only get three pushes before this baby's ready to come out! I let out one more push, then I feel the pressure from down below stop. I let out a small laugh as I look at Daryl, only to see tears falling down his face. My laugh stops short as I look at Hector, that's when I realize what's wrong. Tears instantly fill my eyes as I lift myself up some, trying to get a better look at the doctor.

"What's going on?" Daryl asks, not leaving my side. His accent hides in his worried words. When Hector is only quiet, I get worried.

"Hector!" I shout.

"The baby's umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck. She came out purple, but I may just-" He stops himself short as a baby screams with so much force, I swear one of the light bulbs started to flicker. "Do you want her before I clean her up?" All I can do is nod as I grab the little girl from his arms, bouncing the crying baby ever so gently. I look at Daryl and I see his face as white as a ghost. I go to look down, but I can't move as another loud scream erupts from my throat.

"What's happening?" I ask as Daryl takes the little girl from my arms and brings her away from me. "Daryl, please don't go." I cry out as another jolt of pain goes through my abdomen.

"I'm right 'ere, I am right 'ere." I feel his hand back in mine and all of the noises rush back to my ears. A crying baby, labored breathing, a panicked Hector.

"Oh my god! You're crowning again, it's time to push!"

"What?" Daryl asks as I do as I'm told and push again.

"Again!" I try, but can't push anymore.

"I can't! I'm too weak!" I take a shaky breath as I squeeze Daryl's hand.

"Come on, Madison. If you don't push, this baby will die." My breath gets caught in my throat as I try again, feeling a little pain release.

"Again." After about twenty minutes, we've gotten no where and I'm still struggling to push. "Madison, I need one more big push." I nod and try again, only mustering a little push. Daryl moves down the bed and smiles as he looks.

"Come on, Mai. I can see 'em, one more push and we can meet our other little one." This gives me the will I need to push out our last baby. The room fills with the crying of a second child and I can feel the tears falling down my face as the baby is placed in my arms.