One Last Chance

More Than ....

The journey to the hospital was more leisurely, the relaxing morning had carried over to their appointment. Though the mothers were always worried about the baby, they were slightly more comfortable this time round.

“Good morning, girls. How are you feeling today?” Mor Lena greeted them with a kind smile.

“Good morning, Mor. I feel great, actually. I've been having morning sickness quite consistently for the past few weeks.” Charlotte smiled as she laid down on the examination chair with Engfa sitting by her side.

“How about you, Khun Engfa?”

“Oh me?” Engfa was startled to hear the doctor asking about her. “I’m good, thank you for asking.”

The doctor knew what she was thinking and gave her an empathetic smile, “A partner's wellbeing is as important as the birth mother. It takes two to make a team, make sure you take care of your needs as well.”

Engfa responded with a bashful smile and adjusted her glasses, she exchanged a happy look with Charlotte and replied, “I will, Mor.”

“Alright girls, we're entering your eight week now. Let me have a look at your scans. Careful, it's a little cold.” The doctor reminded before rubbing cold gel on Charlotte's stomach and putting the device on it.

Engfa was rubbing her thumb on Charlotte's hand as they both fixed their eyes on the screen. The grainy image moved around until a little sac was seen.

“Here's your baby, look at that little lump?” Lena smiled at them.

“Wow, it's so tiny.” Engfa gasped and felt her chest bloom with quiet relief. She could see the tiny flicker of a heartbeat, a solid proof that something so tiny was alive. That a baby really existed inside Charlotte's flat stomach.

“Like the size of a raspberry…” Charlotte murmured, their eyes shined with motherly love.

“Would you want to hear the heartbeat?” Lena offered and enjoyed watching the joy on the mothers’ faces.

“Chai ka!” The couple nodded eagerly and exchanged excited glances at each other, their smiles threatened to split their cheeks.

The room was silent for a moment before quick thumps filled the air. So strange and distinctable at the same time.

Thump thump, thump thump, thump thump….

“Is that the baby?” Charlotte's eyes watered and she closed them to enjoy the sound.

“Char, that's our baby's heartbeat na.” Engfa was equally emotional. She squeezed her wife's hand and leaned closer to her wife.

Thump thump, thump thump, thump thump.

The sound was rapid and faster than an adult's heartbeat, it sounded like multiple horses galloping on the grass, except they sounded like they were underwater.

“Hold on, do you hear that?” Mor Lena suddenly smiled as she moved the transducer on Charlotte's stomach.

“What?” Engfa became alert and nervous immediately. “What's wrong, Mor?”

Charlotte suddenly jerked and gasped, turning her surprised face towards her wife who still looked puzzled and worried. Charlotte's eyes teared up even more, her hand moved to cover her mouth.

“Why? What's wrong, baby?” Engfa became quite frantic and shook her head between the doctor and her wife.

“Are we-” Charlotte choked, “Is there more than one, Mor?”

“What!?” Engfa gasped and snapped her head towards the doctor who was smiling at them.

“Congratulations, Khun Charlotte And Khun Engfa. There are, in fact, two babies in there. I didn't see it because the other baby was hiding right….here.”