Viva Las Vengeance

Don't Let The Light Go Out

It's early December, in the middle of the night. Everyone is asleep, and I've just been jolted awake by a sharp pain in my stomach. Groggily, I place a hand on my heavily pregnant stomach, feeling a contraction tighten my whole body. This is it; I was going into labour three weeks earlier than expected.

"Brendon!" I call out, my voice shaking. "Brendon, wake up! I think it's time!"

I hear Brendon stir awake, his voice groggy with sleep. "Babe? What's wrong?"
"I-I think the baby's coming," I stammer, my heart pounding. I feel another contraction building, and I squeezed my eyes shut, biting my lip to stifle a moan.

Suddenly, Brendon is wide awake and alert, his sharp brown eyes taking in my pale face and trembling form.
"Okay, okay, Carly, just breathe. I'm gonna  call an ambulance; we're almost at term, and given your medical history, they'll want to check you out anyway."

As Brendon reaches for his phone, I nod, grateful for his level-headedness.  Drawing slow, deep breaths, I try to calm myself as I feel another contraction washing over me. All of a sudden, I feel a trickle of moisture between my legs.
"Bren, my waters have broken," I tell him as I reach down to try and remove my pyjama shorts. Feeling the liquid between my legs, I freeze, my heart hammering. Something was wrong; I could feel it.

"Brendon," I whispered, my voice shaking. "I-I dont feel so good. This feels much different than Skai's labour."
"Babe, they did tell us no 2 labours are the same...."
"I know, but I dont think it was my waters. I-I think I'm bleeding."

In an instant, Brendon is by my side, his face etched with worry and concern. Placing a gentle hand on my thigh, his eyes widening at the sight of the blood that is currently staining the sheets.

"Shit, babe, you're bleeding heavily. Okay, okay, just stay calm, I'm getting you to the hospital now. We don't have time to wait for an ambulance." Brendon's voice is steady, but I can hear the underlying panic he's trying to mask.

I nod, my teeth chattering both from fear and the chill from the night air now that the warmth of our bed has been abandoned. Brendon helps me to stand, and I grip his arm, wincing as another contraction hits, this one harder than the last.

"Skai and Ava," I gasp, thinking of our two young daughters, asleep in the room across the hall.

"I'll call Pete," Brendon says, dialling Pete's number as he helps me into the car. "Pete! Sorry it's so late. Carlyn's in labour. Somethings wrong, she's bleeding heavily. Can you please come and look after the girls?" Luckily for us, Pete lives quite close to us.
I can only hear Brendon's side of the conversation, but I can imagine Petes reaction.

"He'll be here any minute, and he'll take the girls while we're at the hospital."

Once Pete arrives, we make our way to the hospital bypassing  Pete in our driveway. The drive there passes by in a blur of pain and fear. Brendon's driving with one hand, gripping mine whilst the other grips the steering wheel, his knuckles white. I'm huddled in the passenger seat, moaning softly with each contraction. My eyes are screwed shut as I try to focus on my breathing. I feel numb with terror as the blood continues to flow, soaking the towel that Brendon has placed between my legs.

"Mrs. Urie, we're getting you to a room right away," a nurse said, recognizing me from my prenatal visits. "Your doctor is on her way, and we'll take good care of you and your baby."

I manage a weak smile, grateful for their efficiency as they rush me to a delivery room. Brendon stays by my side, his hand in mine, his thumb rubbing small circles on my palm, offering what comfort he could.

As the nurses bustle around us, preparing for the arrival of our son, I can feel my heart pounding in my ears. I exchange a nervous glance with Brendon, my green eyes meeting his warm brown ones.
"We got through this with Skai," he reminds me, his voice strong and steady. "And we'll get through it again. Our little guy will be here soon, and he's gonna be perfect, just like his mom."