Reunited

Chapter Nine

       As the program for 'Most Promising Prodigies' began, Joseph took off his sunglasses. He started to feel sleepy. The lights started to dim as the lights in the stage switched on.

       "The presenters tonight will showcase their talents for the coveted title of 'The Most Promising Prodigy'." The announcer stated. "The orders of the presenters are: Santos. De Gracia. Brown. Bahaghari. Sison. Antiporda. Uy. And Borromeo."

       Everyone clapped to welcome the first presenter.

       Joseph fell asleep as the first presenter entered the stage. With the music playing, he had a bizarre dream. He was assisting a doctor while a woman was in labour.

       "You can do it, Ma'am! Just one more push!"

       The pregnant woman grunted and gave one great push. She tried to catch her breath. She felt dizzy and fainted. 

       Joseph tried to look at the woman's facial features. She looked like Lea.

       "Ma'am, Lea," The doctor tried waking her up, but she was unconscious.

       "We have to do a Caesarean, doctor!" One of the nurses shouted.

       "His feet came out first – and she seems to be having twins!"

       "Quick!" Joseph exclaimed. "There's no time! We have to send her to the Emergency Room!" He and the other nurses quickly pushed Lea's gurney to the emergency room.

       Joseph suddenly transported inside a private room. He saw Lea, peacefully sleeping on the bed, and a hunched figure who seemed to be sleeping by the bed.

       He slowly tried waking the sleeping woman. "Lea, Lea, wake up."

       Lea's eyes fluttered. "Where... where am I?" She asked.

       Upon hearing her voice, the hunched figure woke up.

       Joseph realised it was his father.

       "Love, you're awake." He held Lea's right hand.

       "Oh, yes I am, John." Lea turned her head to her lover's side. "What... what happened?"

       "The doctors were about to pull baby boy when they found out you were having twins. They were supposed to tell you to push some more, but apparently you fainted.  They had to perform a C-section in order for the twins to come out."

       Lea smiled at John and closed her eyes. Soon she fell into a deep slumber once more.

       John, who looked ten years younger, turned to Joseph. "How was the surgery?" He asked.

       "The doctor pulled the twins' hands apart – apparently their skin was the only ones conjoined. No bones were being broken in the process." Joseph never thought those words came out from his mouth.

       John let out a sigh of relief.

       "What are you going to name the twins?" Joseph asked his father.

       John pondered deeply for a few seconds. Then he came to a decision.

       "I'll name them Joseph and Josephine, after the patron saint of this hospital and the patron saint of my Church back in Lambeth." 

       Joseph woke up to the sound of the audience clapping loudly as the presenter took a bow, leaving the stage. He seemed to be breathing shallowly.