Creating Memories

*** Prologue ***

A/N: Before you start reading this story, you must read my one-shot fic 'Forgotten Memory' first for you to understand this story.

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Pete's heart raced as he carried Som's limp body into the emergency room, her face twisted in pain. His store staff, Pie, followed close behind, holding Venice's hand tightly.

A nurse quickly rushed to them, directing Pete to lay Som on a hospital bed. Pete gently laid her down, his eyes never leaving her face. She was sweating profusely, her breathing shallow.

The nurse began to ask Som questions about her symptoms, but Som was barely coherent. All she could manage were soft moans of agony. Pete held her hand tightly, trying to comfort her. The other nurses checked her vital signs and checked the baby via ultrasound.

"Wait a little bit, Som," Pete whispered, his voice shaking with emotion. "Be patient. We'll meet our daughter soon."

Som's eyes flickered open, and she turned her gaze towards Pete. "It hurts so much," she whimpered, tears streaming down her face.

Pete leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I know, I know," he whispered back. "Just hold on a little longer, okay?"

Suddenly, the door swung open, and in walked the doctor. His face was solemn, and his steps were slow as he approached the couple. The nurse with the ultrasound machine shows something to the doctor; the other nurse gives the doctor her vital signs results. The doctor analyzes the chart before looking at Pete and Som.

"Mr. and Mrs. Saengtham, I have some news," he began, his voice laced with sadness. "Your baby had her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck, and her heart is weak. Additionally, Som has high blood pressure. This makes her delivery risky, and there's a chance she might suffer a heart attack during childbirth."

Pete froze at the doctor's words, and Som's grip on his hand tightened.

"What can we do, Doctor?" Pete asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"If the situation were less critical, we would advise you to go to Bangkok for better medical options. But right now, both the mother's and child's lives are at stake, and we need to act fast," the doctor explained.

Pete felt his mind racing, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't believe this was happening. "Please, do whatever you can to save them," he pleaded, his voice shaking with emotion.

The doctor nodded, his expression softening slightly. "We will do our best, but in case we have to make a difficult decision, we need you to choose between them," he said, his words heavy with the weight of the situation.

Pete felt his heart shatter into a million pieces at the thought of choosing between his wife and child. "I can't do that," he said, his voice choked with tears.

The doctor's expression remained unchanged, but Som's eyes filled with tears.

"Pete, it's okay," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Promise me that you'll choose our daughter."

Pete's heart sank. "Don't say that, Som," he replied, his voice trembling. "That won't happen. I won't let that happen."

But Som was insistent. "Promise me, Pete," she pleaded. "Promise me you'll choose our daughter. I couldn't live with myself if you didn't."

Pete swallowed hard, his eyes filling with tears. "Okay," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I promise." Som reaches out her hand and touches Pete's jaw, "I love you so much, Pete,"