[Moonsun] Motherhood

Ch.11

- You're early today. - Chaeyoung smiled as Byulyi walked into her room. - Is Yongsun unnie busy again?

- She's coming in some minutes. - She sat down and found a comfortable position to sit on the small chair. - Her meeting at the hospital is nearly finished.

- Ah, okay. How are you so far? Do you still count the baby kicks regularly?

- I'm fine, and of course I don't forget that. Now that you remind me of it, I haven't felt its kicks for two days. There's no response no matter how we talk or do anything. I can't find much in the books and they said on the internet it was normal so I planned to ask you today when I met you. - Byulyi gripped her handbag tightly. - It's not that serious, right?

The obstetrician's smile faded a little.

- Shall we check?

Chaeyoung personally conducted the ultrasound for Byulyi. Tension filled the room, not the positive one, and during those time Chaeyoung didn't smile even for a little bit. The pregnant woman's heart throbbed in worry. This sudden procedure didn't help at all in easing her mind, if not the opposite.

The next hour, as she would describe many years later, was torturous but not enough to be described as hell, despite all the tests and examinations and waiting. Because nothing would have prepared her when Chaeyoung came back to the clinic with a sorrowful look and on the verge of tears to tell her what she needed to know.

- Byulyi, call Yongsun unnie right away. Tell her there's an emergency related to you. By law you can't hear this alone.

- W-what? O-okay... - She nodded, quickly took her phone out and looked for her favorite contact.

- Byul-ah, I'm coming. - The psychiatrist answered after three rings. There were clattering sounds of her heels on the other line. - What's the matter?

- I-I honestly don't know. Chaeyoung hasn't said anything yet, but she said that you have to be here for her to announce it.

- Okay, I'll be there in three minutes.

She slowly put her phone down on the table, the other hand trying to detect any movement of her baby but failed, even the slightest. In front of her, Chaeyoung was clenching her fists, obviously trying to repress her emotions at full force.

The door slid open, revealing a Yongsun still having the white blouse on, panting just like half a year ago when Moonbyul had to admit to the hospital.

Carefully closing the door, she took a chair and sat down, her left hand reaching out, wanting to hold the younger woman's. - Is there any major issue?

- Well... I need you both to listen carefully. - The young obstetrician took a deep breath. - I checked multiple times, but I can't detect any heartbeat.

Byulyi's grip went slack with disbelief.

- S-so you're saying m-my baby is d-dead?

- Yes... - She could only slightly nod. - Its heart seemed to have stopped beating in your womb. I couldn't really figure out the reason behind it, we might have to wait until the baby is delivered.

- No... it can't be... - She shook her head as her hand grabbed her cloth covering her belly tightly. - No way... You must be wrong, are you? It... my baby is still very healthy...

- There're several cases where the baby dies with no apparent reason too. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Byul-ah. - Chaeyoung lowered her head, her eyes starting to get puffy.

- This is crazy. - Somehow, she wanted to laugh. This news... this news was so unbelievable to Byulyi.

Her baby was dead.