THE CALL

One: Motherhood

BAMBI ELOISE RUSSELL
5 Months ago

I've been on this earth for a solid twenty years, and never in my life have I ever experienced anything like this. I've always been a positive person so one minor inconvenience never bothered me. Not until now. Maybe it's because this isn't a minor inconvenience, it's a major one.

Fourteen months ago I found out I was pregnant. I was so excited to become a mom because it was something I've always wanted for myself. I told my boyfriend immediately after I found out. I expected him to celebrate with me, but he didn't the complete opposite. He walked out the door and didn't return until a week later.

I didn't get too crazy about it because I knew it was a lot of information to take in. We haven't been together that long, only five months. Him having that kind of a reaction didn't make me feel any kind of way. Not until he came back a week later demanding that I get an abortion.

Now, I'm not against it, people have the right to choose what they want to do, but it wasn't for me. I didn't see a reason to do such a thing. I never told him he had to raise the baby with me, I just told him that I was pregnant. After he realized I wasn't going to get rid of the baby he started acting different.

I wasn't going to get my hopes up because I knew something could change in a matter of seconds. He did try his best though. He went to a good majority of my appointments, he showed up for the gender reveal, the baby shower.

After the baby shower things changed. He stopped doing the things he did and would disappear for days. Any person in my shoes would break up with him, but I didn't. I wanted to raise my daughter with him.

Unfortunately, I should've lowered my expectations for him. I'm lying here in a hospital bed while he's out doing god knows what. Thankfully, my friends and family took his place.

They were trying to distract me from the fact that my boyfriend didn't show up for the birth of his daughter, but it didn't really help.

They shouldn't be in this room with me, he should. He got me pregnant, not them.

And these contractions are no joke. I'm squeezing the life out of my father's hand instead of his. He's such a loser.

"She never listens to me, Mirabelle!" Hadley sighed, "We've been telling her to break up with him."

"She's stubborn," Bernie, my brother, shrugged, "I thought we knew that."

"I would really appreciate it if you guys didn't talk about me as if I'm not in front of you." I winced, breathing through a contraction.

"Yeah guys, that's not nice." Kali pointed.

"You have no room to talk, Kp." Hadley laughed, "You literally just said her frontal lobe wasn't fully formed."

"It's not a lie! She hasn't reached that point yet." Kp defended.

"Everyone just shut the fuck up." I groaned, "Actually- if your name isn't Mirabelle Russell get the hell out."

They all scurried out of the room whilst mumbling things to themselves.

They were overwhelming me. All that William talk was stressing me out. We get, he's a shitty boyfriend.

"How are you feeling, baby?" My mom asked, rubbing my head gently.

"Like I'm dying," I pouted.

"Sounds about right." She chuckled, "It's gonna get worse once you actually have to push. Plus, you declined the epidural."

"I'm a thug, mom, I don't need it."

"You keep telling yourself that, B." She giggled.

The two of us sat in a comfortable silence as I went through contractions. God I wish William was here.

My doctor came into the room with a couple nurses behind her. I knew they were here to see if I dilated any further. I hate dilation checks. They're so uncomfortable.

"What if I told you that you were ten centimeters dilated and that I can see your baby's head?" Amalie, the doctor asked, wearing a bright smile.

"I'd sob." I deadpanned.

"Well start crying, Miss Russell. You're crowning."

This is the part I've been dreading. Yes, I'm excited as hell to finally meet the baby I've been cooking these past nine months, but I don't think I'm physically capable of pushing her out. It's too much.

My mom kissed my hand and watched as the nurses worked around me. Realization was setting in. This is it.

"Alright, Bambi, I'm gonna have you push for about ten seconds every time you feel a contraction." Amalie nodded.

"I can't." I cried loudly.

"Yes you can. You've waited nine months for this very moment, Bambi. You can and you will push this baby out."

Here we go...

~\~/~

I pushed a total of ten times before my baby's cry could be heard. She was slimy and bloody, but she was mine. All six pounds and ten ounces.

I was in awe. She had so much hair. She opened her eyes for a quick second before going back to screaming her lungs out.

My mom cut her cord and helped give her a bath. It should've been William doing this. Missing appointments was one thing, but missing the birth was another.

After my baby was all cleaned up, the nurses brought her back over to me. Her big brown eyes stared into mine. She looked like him. I didn't like that. I did everything for nine months just for her to look like him? How ironic.

One of the nurses opened the door, allowing my family to come back in. Knowing that they were on the opposite side of the door made me happy. They were here for me when William wasn't.

"And do we have a name for this sweet baby girl?" Layla, a nurse asked.

"Yes ma'am," I nodded, "I present to you all, Bellamy Nicole Russell."

"Oh that's beautiful." Hadley pouted.

"I'll be back in about an hour to check on you. Enjoy your baby," Layla smiled softly.

I'm still in shock. I can't believe she's all mine.

It's sad that William wasn't here, but I now move on to the next chapter of my life; Motherhood.

A/n: First chapter. How are we feeling? I would just like to say that I've never given birth a day in my life so if this is inaccurate, that's my defense. But anyways, I'll see you soon! Remember that you are loved and appreciated by me!
-Mj