When I Was Gone

Scare

July 28 1943

I wake up around 6 in the morning feeling somewhat wet and feeling pain. My water broke? Contractions? ALREADY? I'm only a month away! I reach for the phone to call Doctor Smith.

"Doctor Smith? Emily Forester. I think I've gone into labor early.." I was shaking and it was audible.

"But Emily, you're due in a month!"

"I know but please come to my house! I'm in pain, I've broken water, and it just hurts to move!"

"I-I'll be right over."

The next 20 minutes for Smith to come took forever. I had called my mother in law and step mother to calm myself. My step mother said she was coming over and that she said some news while she was over. I haven't seen her for several months, I'm not that close to her as I can be. Soon after I hung up with my mother in law, my step mother came over like she said she would. I was hoping more that it would be Dr. Smith.

"Emily?" I heard from the other room.

"Sadie, I'm in the bedroom!" I called without sounding terrible. She walked in the door and took one look at me. I am mess!

"Are you alright? Do you need anything?" Sadie rushed over to my bedside, touching my face if anything felt warm. I'm not that much younger than her I don't understand why she's trying to mother me.

"I'm in pain," I take her hand off my face. "I'm having contractions and I'm not ready! I have another month, this shouldn't be happening now!" I start crying of fear. I don't know what to do, I've never been in labor before. Things could've been much smoother if Jayden wasn't off to war. Life in general would be significantly better.

"Emily, Emily, honey calm down. You don't want to cause distress to the baby." Sadie wiped my tears away. I don't have it in me to tell her she isn't my mother.

"Sadie, what's the good news you wanted to tell me in person? I need to take my mind off of the pain."

"Um, I don't think nows a good time to tell you-"

"-tell me."

Sadie stared at me, unsure what to say to me. Luckily, Dr. Smith came in.

"Emily, how do you feel?"

"I feel like I'm having contractions." I said simply. I feel as if I have no expression whatsoever.

"And when did your water break?"

"I'd say about 6am, because that's why I woke up."

Dr. Smith nodded. "Before I came, I grabbed all your tests and looked through your results one last time. From your last visit the results said you are expecting twins."

"Twins?" I felt my jaw drop.

"I wasn't able to send the results to you since you have to go to the post office and since I put you on bedrest-"

"It's fine, but twins?"

"Yes!"

"Emily, that's great! You've always wanted a big family!" Sadie looked at me with a smile. I forced one myself but I feared I wouldn't live and would die like my mother from childbirth. A cousin of my friend had twins and had almost died.. That's what I have always feared of ever since that happened.

"But one thing: the twins are fraternal twins so it's separate pregnancies. And the twin that is early labor needs to come out now-"

"No problem, do it." I said. Remaining calm at this stage wasn't easy.