Protecting Jonathan

Chapter 8

       ***TRIGGER WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS TRIGGERING CONTENT. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!***                                                                   

                                                                                          NATALIE     

We both took turns getting ready to head over to the warehouse, but once we got into the elevator, a young pregnant lady came into the elevator.  As we were descending to the lobby the lights flickered twice before stopping and the lights started flickering again nonstop.    

The lights turn off, so the three of us used our phone flashlight to see. I begin to hyperventilate, I hate small, confined spaces. Johnathan was right by my side calming me down when we heard water splatting on the floor. I pointed my flashlight towards the pregnant girl from her feet all the way to her face which was riddled with a horrific expression. Suddenly I wasn't hyperventilating, my concern became her and her baby.

Johnathan was immediately at her side, and I was pressing the emergency button rapidly, trying to get help for this young lady, "this is maintenance, how can we help?"

I breathe a sigh of relieve, "Hi! I'm in the elevator with two other people and we are stuck. One of them is pregnant." I rambled off in one breath, anxiously tapping my feet waiting for a response. Johnthan helps the girl on the floor and came to my side taking over the conversation with the maintenance guy while I went to her aide.

"Hi sweetie, how are you feeling?" I asked her, observing her face. She couldn't be over 16 years old. I reached up and palmed her cheek wondering what she is doing here on her own and where the fuck were her parents? Johnathan came to her side, a series of cuss words stringing from his foul mouth. "Johnathan, stop. You're scaring her. What did they say?"

"Well Nat, help isn't coming for another 2 hours. Apparently, there is a parade on the street, so they were rerouted somewhere else before getting here." This time it was my turn cuss, and I didn't stop until I was shushed by Johnathan and the girl yelled my name is unison, "Nat!"

The girls grimaced trying not to scream through her contraction, I held her hand through the pain. Once it's gone, I asked her name again, "Eva, my name is Eva."

"Alright Eva as you know my name is Nat. Now Eva I'm going to reach under and see how many centimeters you are dilated, is that alright with you?" she nods, and I stick my fingers in and she isn't that far away.

"You're 5cm dilated you got 5cm to go, whenever you have an--" she squeezes my hand her face contorting pain and she moans through the pain. Seeing Eva like this brought back a painful memory. My precious Jenna, the memories of her existence were both exhilarating and torturous at the same time. How can anyone ever live such memories?

I'm at peace knowing my daughter isn't alive to witness the horrors of this world. Kids are innocent when they come into this world, it is upon us the adults to secure their innocence, protect them from the monsters of the world including the monsters within ourselves.

Eva's screams pulled me out of my funk, and I inserted my fingers to see how dilated is, "looks like your baby is ready to meet you, Eva are you ready?" she nods in my direction looking anything but ready. I pam her cheeks looking into her eyes giving her reassurance. "I will be with you every step of the way, okay." she nods again.

I turn to Johnathan, "I'm going to need you to sit behind her and coach her breathing." he positions himself behind her and her between his legs., "Okay Eva it's time to start pushing."

"Wait." Johnathan says, "I think I recognize the voice on the speaker."

"Nigga, now isn't the time." I return my gaze on Eva, "take a deep breath and start pushing."