Past (english version)

chapter 5

Jean takes me to a dilapidated house; the door creaks as he opens it, and it feels like it's going to fall apart at the slightest touch.

Without even glancing at me, he goes upstairs and I feel obliged to follow him.

He enters a room and goes to the bedside of a pregnant woman holding the hand of a man who must be her husband.

"So you've come?" Blows the woman from the pain.

"Of course, did you really think I was going to miss the birth of my best friend's child?"

I feel like a stain on this place, I'm the only noble and I don't know a single person. The woman turns to me and makes a face.

Nice.

"Is she your lover?"

Jean turns to me and shakes her head sharply as if this woman has just said the worst insult.

I'm going to start taking it personally.

"When do you think he'll come out?"

"Any minute now. I'm in pain." She bellows.

Jean looks totally panicked, looking right and left no doubt in search of a midwife. I roll my eyes.

"I know you bourges have doctors at your disposal, but we're having trouble finding any."

"It's not that." I reply annoyed by his remark.

"It's not? Then what is it?"

"Your ability to panic easily when faced with a woman who only says she's in pain because of simple contractions."

He looks at me, raising his eyebrows.

"I'd be surprised if you'd ever had a child, mademoiselle. You look my age to me."

"And how old are you?"

"Almost nineteen.

"Likewise."

Suddenly, the woman begins to cry out in pain, and we turn to her. Jean panics and runs to her bedside.

"What's happening?"

"He's coming!"

"Good heavens, what's to be done? The doctor's still not here!" he shoots.

"Bring boiling water in a bucket, scissors, clean cloths and if you have soap too."

"What are you doing?" he asks.

"I'm going to deliver her."

"What are you saying? You're not a doctor, you'll kill them!"

"If we do nothing, yes! Then get out of my way and get me what I asked for!" I get carried away.

"Do as she says, Jean, please!"

Jean glares at me and leaves the room. I'm left alone with this woman who's about to give birth. I know a thing or two about medicine, having spent a few years in the field.

"So madam, we're going to need to get you into a comfortable position to welcome the baby."

She does as I ask and Jean arrives with the basin of water and almost everything I asked for.

"Don't you have any soap?"

He realizes he's forgotten something and goes back outside. I approach the woman and position her legs so that I can see where the baby is.

I'm not going to give any details.

"You're going to have to push on three, and above all take your time to breathe."