Behind The Mask

Chapter 63

Michael's POV

I came back from a recording session quite hoarse and tired. I took a few spoonfuls of honey to calm my aching throat and contemplated a long hot bath with my Nooki to relax. That thought motivated me to drag my ass from the kitchen to our room. However, I found my Nooki sleeping peacefully and I decided to have a quick shower instead and then join her. In retrospect, I am timing my movements, because I feel that I have to justify every second I spent on this fateful day. I stripped en route to the bathroom and left a mess behind me, as usual. I jumped in the shower and started lathering myself with shower gel and shampoo right away. I don't know....it was as if something inside me had sped up everything I was doing. Maybe we are capable to foresee into the near future in case of crisis. I don't know...maybe I am just rambling and I just wanted to get over with the shower and relax in bed with my wife.

I finished showering in minutes and then I grabbed a pair of clean boxer briefs and walked barefoot to bed.

Slipping under the covers, I grabbed Nooki gently, pulling her towards me. She usually wakes up just enough to cuddle into me and falls back asleep instantly. This time...she felt inert, like in a really deep sleep.

"Nooki? You're really tired, aren't you?"

I spoke in her ear loud enough for her to stir awake. But she didn't. I felt some kind of uneasiness coming over me. I reached for her shoulder and shook her gently.

"Nooki? Wake up for a moment, baby. Nooki?"

I shook her a little harder. No matter how deep asleep she was, she would wake up. But she didn't. A claw sank into my heart and I started shaking her even more urgently. She remained inert.

"NOOKI! NOOKI, WAKE UP! WAKE UP, BABY! WAKE UP!"

I was screaming and shaking her and crying, but something inside me rose above the level of panic and paralyzing fear. I had to save her. Whatever it was, I had to save her. I put my fingers on her neck and felt her faint pulse. I gave a sigh of relief, but it was short lived. Her breathing was so shallow, it was almost imperceptible. From a past I barely remembered, I did somehow remember the mouth to mouth resuscitation technique.

I pinched her nostrils and gently pulled down her chin and sealed my lips over hers giving her the breath of life. I repeated the maneuver ten times then lifted up my head enough to yell:

"WAYNE! CALL 911!"

Wayne busted through the door in a few seconds, phone in hand.

"What's wrong, Michael?"

"Anouk! She won't wake up! Wayne, she wont' wake up! Call 911! Tell them....tell them she's pregnant."

Wayne does not know about Nooki's pregnancy. Her mother doesn't either. We planned to keep it hushed up until Wayne and Marieke's wedding then share the news of our own marriage and pregnancy. Now, fate has twisted this decision out of my hands.

Wayne is well trained in his job. He won't let emotions overtake them in critical moments.

"We have a 25 years old female, unresponsive, she is pregnant and has type 1 diabetes. Address is..."

I tune out Wayne as I continue to do mouth to mouth resuscitation on Nooki.

"The paramedics ask if she has a pulse."

"Yes, it's faint, but she has a pulse."

"Affirmative, she has a pulse", Wayne speaks into the phone. "Keep monitoring the pulse. If it stops, you should start pumping her chest."