Fear

59 • Little Lily

I was sitting awkwardly in the staff room with Sam, Lee, and James, and a few others, trying to mask my discomfort.

The room was brighter since we put a skylight in, filled with the soft hum of the air conditioning and the scent of fresh coffee. Motivational posters decorated the walls, and a bulletin board displayed the latest staff rota changes.

I shifted in my seat, my breath heavy and sweat forming on my forehead from the strain of my eight-month pregnancy, and a growing ache that had started two days before.

This morning, the ache felt more like pain. I woke up with a sharp, stabbing pain in my abdomen that made me jolt up out of the bed, startling Tyler who stared at me with wide eyes. He asked me if I was okay, and fortunately, the pain quickly subsided, so I went about my usual daily routine and duties around the institution. I was tasked with reviewing and rewriting the staff rota. Then I called on them for a meeting.

"So, starting next week, we'll have two shifts each day, apart from Sundays, to cover the increased patient load," I began, trying to keep my voice steady. I spoke loud and seemed alright, apart from the frown of slight discomfort on my face. "Lee, James and Mara, you'll take the morning shift, and Aaron, Daniel, and Sam, you'll cover the afternoon."

Aaron, Mara, and Daniel were some of the staff I never really had much to do with. I'd spoken to them once or twice maybe in the whole year and a half I'd been at the institution, but other than Sam, James, Lee, Raven, and those we'd lost-Dylan, Jack, and Nate-I didn't find time to, or just wasn't interested, in speaking to the other staff members.

I was just about to go over the new rota for Sundays, when the sharp pain I'd felt in the morning returned, this time feeling worse. Most of them didn't notice the subtle change in my expression as I tried desperately but failed to keep my face straight through the pain.

But Sam was watching me. "Emily, are you okay?"

I forced a smile, waving him off with a slight grunt as the pain continued. "I-I'm fine, just a bit uncomfortable is all."

As the hour went on, the pain seemed to intensify. It seemed to come in bursts, and eventually the time between the pains got shorter. By the end of the hour, I was clutching my belly, panting and sweating profusely.

When the meeting finally ended, most of the staff filtered out of the room. They seemed to know what was happening, but there was little they could do to help. Some of them asked if they could help me, but I waved them off and told them to get back to work, assuring them I'd be fine. All but Sam. I noticed him lingering by the coffee machine near the doorway.

"Emily, you don't look good. I think you need to come to the hospital with me."

Suddenly, a sharp, agonising pain tore through my abdomen, and I doubled over in my chair and screamed. My water broke, soaking the floor beneath me.

"Emily!" Sam exclaimed, rushing to my side. "You're going into labour!"

Panic set in as the pain intensified. "Get Tyler," I gasped, my voice strained.

He looked worried and shook his head. "He left this morning on an errand. He's not here."

My composure shattered. "Shit!" Panic set in, and I cried out in agony. "Call him, Sam! Now!"

Sam helped me to my feet, but I could barely stand. Each step down the corridor was a desperate struggle to keep my balance as my head spun and the pain made me delirious. I suddenly fell to my knees as another wave of pain washed over me. Someone else appeared just in time and helped Sam lift me to my feet again. I looked up to see Raven, and together they got me to the hospital wing.