Her Redemption

24. Regrets

6 months later

"Liz! I got here as soon as I could." I rush into the hospital room as she starts screaming out in pain.

"Oh thank god." Asher sighs loudly, sweat evident on his face and saunters over to me for a hug. I hug him briefly and look on over at Liz

She's in labor and she still looks like a rockstar.

"You're here." She rasps exhaling after her contraction just finished.

"I'm here I'm here." I kiss her forehead and take her hand in mine.

"Where's mom?" She asks wincing when another contraction begins.

I fix the hair that's matted around her face and push it back behind her ears. "Mom is in the waiting room with Tommy and Spencer and his friend. Ana should be coming soon, she had a class this morning."

"Oh good good the whole gang is here." Asher says and then plops down on the seat next to the hospital bed.

"Do you need anything?" I ask Liz.

"No just you and Asher that's all I want." She scrunches her face in pain "and the fucking epidural! I don't know what the fuck I was thinking wanting an all natural birth!!" She shrieks.

Yup. Trust me I know how that feels.

"How about I go get the nurse?" I ask. I don't like seeing her in pain.

"But you just got here" she points out—her eyes becoming glossy.

"And I'll be right back with the nurse and anesthesiologist okay? I promise." I kiss her forehead again, despite it being all sweaty, and walk out to find help.

Three hours later, which includes one hour of pushing, my sister Liz gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Juniper. 8 pounds and 3 ounces of pure beauty and a whole lot of dark hair.

I'm proud of her and I'm happy to have been there for her.

Ever since Liz and Asher moved down a couple houses down from me, we've been inseparable. I've helped her with whatever she needed throughout her pregnancy because I know what's it's like not having anyone there for you. With Asher getting a full time job at a marketing company, I wanted nothing more than to be that for her.

I walk out of the delivery room, giving them privacy as she enjoys her golden hour with her husband.

I open the door to the waiting room and I'm startled with the presence of Bryan with my family.

Without acknowledging him, I keep up with my steps until my family notices me.

With wide eyes and anticipation they look at me and I smile.

"It's a girl!" I say gleefully and my mom starts crying of happiness.

Spencer gives Ana a 100 dollar bill, because he lost a bet that it would be a boy and she bet that it would be a girl. She smiles in triumph—jumping up and down with Tommy in her hands. I'm surprised he's awake given that it's 9 at night and it's past his bedtime.

I wipe my tears of joy with my sweater and go to sit down when someone stops me.

"Can we talk for a second?"