Apocrypha

Chapter 1

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11

IN THE STERILE WHITE HOSPITAL ROOM, a woman laid on her back as she writhed in pain. Her legs had been propped up onto stirrups as her legs were opened. Two doctors peered between her and spoke to one another.

"How is she?" A man next to the woman asked, obviously her husband. The doctors did their final examinations until the head doctor walked up to the man.

"She's almost there. She'll need to start pushing soon." The doctor told the man. He simply grunted and turned to his wife.

While his wife groaned in pain, her face covered in sweat and her hair sticking to her forehead, the man simply said one line to her. "You better do your duties and give me a son."

The woman, despite her pain from feeling her body being practically torn open, felt more distraught from his words. Ever since they've arrived at the hospital, he's been distant to her. But that was the norm for them.

"Ma'am. You're going to have to push now!" The head doctor announced. So, she did. She pushed with all her force and screamed loudly. She wondered if there really was a God, if he could hear her screams from up in heaven.

As the woman kept pushing, her hands played around to try and grab onto her husband's hand. But he pushed her hand away and just waited expectantly, wondering if he was going to have a son or daughter.

After many painful and grueling hours of nonstop pain, she had one more push to do. Using all the energy left in her, she did one final push. The room was quiet for a brief second until the wails of a baby could be heard.

"What is it?" the husband asked as he walked away from his wife towards the doctor.

The doctor, holding the still crying baby, held him up towards the shining light in the middle of the room. He presented the new born baby as a marvel of God.

"Congratulations, Mr. Barrington. You have a son." The doctor announced. A satisfied smile came upon the now satisfied husband. He waited for the baby to be cleaned and checked. He was perfect.

"Elijah..." The tired woman muttered. All her energy was gone. But she still muttered, "Elijah," The name of her father. But her voice was ignored. She had completed her duty: Giving her husband an heir.

The father, proudly looking down at his son. He admired the child's blonde hair, similar to his. His pale white skin. The baby was an exact replica of himself.

"This child will hold power that no other hand held before. The strength within him will prevail over our country. As defender of God, he shall be the greatest amongst the rest. My son, Gabriel Joseph Barrington-Washington."

The baby began to cry, its natural instinct coming in to be held by its mother. But the father and doctors ignored the cries of the baby and began to walk out of the room, taking him to see his grandfather.

When the room was cleared, all that was left was the mother as she muttered to see her child. At least hold him in her arms and kiss his head, knowing that her flesh and blood went into creating that miracle.

The doors opened and a nurse walked in. "I need help here! She's bleeding out!" The nurse yelled. The mother began to slowly close her eyes, letting complete darkness encompass and take her into the sweet abyss she's longed for.

And she hoped this time, she could sleep peacefully without any disturbances.

GABRIEL QUICKLY SHOT UP from his bed, covered in sweat and panting. He wiped his forehead of precipitation and felt his shirt get cold from how wet it was.