Across The Interstice

Moment of Truth

The soft beeping of a monitor transpierces her mind and disrupts her tranquil state, awakening her from her slumber. The monotonous, soft voices of many a man fills the room, the combined sounds creating a cacophony within her throbbing head. An attempt to sit up, on her part results in excruciating pain traversing through her body.

The lucid light of the room pierces through her eyelids as they open groggily, her body protesting against the slightest of movements. Her eyes flutter open enabling her to set sights on the immaculate, hazy white atmosphere around her. The ghastly memories of the supernatural encounter she had had, invades her thoughts, flooding into her mind as clear as day.

A searing pain emerges from her head as she concedes to the events that had transpired, reminiscing about the cold darkness that she had felt as the creature pounced on its prey.

She lets out a low grunt to signify her consciousness. Her movements to rise however are obstructed by wires and tubes hooked up onto her body. Within milliseconds several indistinguishable faces crowd around, accompanied by strong hands that steady her back, prompting her to lie down.

As her vision starts to focus, large, long white coats seem to materialize around her; the large humanlike figures examining her with curiosity, now perceivable as such.

"Lie back down, don't worry, you're in the hospital and you're safe" a deep voice soothes. She felt as though the world was spinning, leaving her confused and weak. "I'm supposed to be dead...what happened to me?" she questions, attempting to contemplate the situation that lay before her.

"It's alright now, don't be alarmed you're safe, you've been in a coma, but, you're awake now, it'll be fine", the doctor whispers slowly, as though talking to a child. A deep silence fills the room as the onlookers wait eagerly for her reaction.

A wave of immense relief washes over her as the realization that she was alive and safe assuredly dawns upon her. She sighs, turning to the doctor. "How long was I gone?" she asks, fearing the worst, question upon question accumulating within her head. "Less than a week", the doctor says haphazardly, shining a bright flickering light into her eyes.

"May I know your name and age?" he inquires, pressing his stethoscope against her chest, "my name's Niesha Amos, I'm 23" she replies her eyes travelling through the room, taking in the various instruments and monitors that lay beside her. The doctor promptly rises and shakes her hand. "Well, I'm Doctor Shane, it's a pleasure to meet you", he mentions courteously and turns towards a few nurses, waiting patiently by the bedside corner.

Subsequent to a short conversation and a somber expression of discomfort, he treads cautiously towards her side. "Alright! You are going to be absolutely fine, you might feel a bit stiff due to the lack of movement but in time you will be able to move freely again. Now, you'll have to stay in the hospital for a few more days so that we can monitor your condition... ", he abruptly stops, his voice filled with emotion. "Now, there's no easy way to say this but, you were in an extreme condition when you got here, your body was desperately straining to sustain life with multiple gashes particularly across the gut region and so...the condition of your child is..."

Her eyes widen with fear as her hands cling at the pastel blue gown on her stomach. "No! Don't tell me... he's not, is he...? " she pleads, her chocked voice begging, for once, to be proved wrong. The doctor hangs his head, "To be blunt, the percentage of survival is almost zero. We can run an ultrasound but...", "Do it!" she screams, denying the very thought of him being gone.

"We'll take you to the room, please don't attempt to stand, your legs might not be able to support you just yet, the nurses will be with you shortly", the doctor says, his solemn tone expressing his deepest condolences for her potential loss.

Soon after the faint traces of the doctor's lengthy white coat vanishes from plain sight, Niesha rises in an attempt to sit up, the oppressive wires further frustrating her devastated mind. 'Oh god please, please, I'll do anything. Just please don't let him be dead' she implores, the delicate thoughts of a peaceful life shattering within her broken mind.

The nurse rushes to Niesha's side, her form appearing as a pastel blue blur to her tear filled eyes. After swiftly detaching the cluster of wires that she wore upon her arms, the nurse prompts her to stand on her quivering feet. The fragility of her weakened state accompanied by the soul crushing notion that her child might be gone bears down upon her with a tremendous weight seemingly manifesting into a physical form causing her legs to buckle behind her. Mustering up all her energy she urges herself to push forward, determined to see for herself the form of her growing unborn child.

Guided by the supportive arms of many a nurse, Niesha staggers through the hospital halls, her legs gaining strength with each passing step and her stubborn denial of her child's death blocking out the pain of motion. The array of patients and nurses that walked the halls looked on in curiosity at the strange woman limping determinedly towards her goal. Extensive windows donned the walls, giving view to bountiful grass and water bodies. The stunning atmosphere however, passed by her one track mind in a haze as she could see the x-ray ward come into view.

Niesha dashes into the room in a violent frenzy, the immense anxiety tugging fiercely at her heartstrings. She lies upon the ultrasound bed as the doctor moves the transducer towards her body, the black and white image that would determine her future forming on the monitor behind her. The doctor's eyes widen as he draws in a sharp intake of breath.

The world stops.

"Alive"