Collection

My Baby Girl

I rubbed my eyes tiredly as I waited by the bed. The doctors and nurses could be heard talking hurriedly outside the door, and I wished for them to either come in and report or just go away. I chanced a tired glance at Emily. She looked to be sleeping, her dark hair plastered to he head and neck. I frowned at the rapid and shallow breaths she took. She seemed to be getting paler by the second.

Angels and ministers of mercy above, I thought, just send 'em in already.

I wished the doctor would tell me the bad news, I mean it's not like it was obvious or anything. I'd seen the amount of blood Emily had been losing. It was too much. I just wanted to know if there was even a slim chance of recovery.

The door finally creaked open and I resisted glaring at the doctor who entered, a nurse following close behind. The doctor looked between my wife and I contemplatively. Then his shoulders slumped slightly and he seemed to shake himself from a stupor.

"There isn't good news. I'm afraid Mr. Ryll that your wife lost more blood than we could replenish and there were some complications in the birth besides that. There really is nothing to do but wait now. I'm so sorry." I closed my eyes knowing I had expected something like this, but it didn't help. Emily was sick and getting sicker and I couldn't do anything. Not a damn thing. I waved the doctor out, eyes still closed and tried to hold back the sons until I was alone. As soon as I heard the door close again and I opened my eyes and drank in the sweaty sight of Emily.

Her eyes fluttered open and she locked gazes. I tried to smile. It didn't work. She tried to smile too. She got it to work, like always.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"You look like you just signed my death warrant." I paled at the words, at how true they were. I couldn't find myself able to look into her eyes anymore and so became interested in the floor. Hmm, very shiny and ... smooth.

"Sorry, just a joke. Trying to defuse the tension." She chuckled slightly. I looked back up at her. The little laugh seemed to have exhausted her. Still better play along.

"Really? Out of all the joking material in the world you make it about your pending death? You could have at least started with knock knock."

"Your right. Knock knock."

"Who's there?"

"Love."

"Love who?"

"Love you." Emily choked on the last word and tears streamed down her face. I ignored the fact of my own little waterfall, and moved closer grasping her hand and stroking her head.

"Love you too." She quieted down a little, but the crying took it it of her. Her eyes were starting to droop.

"The baby?" She asked.

"Fine, she's fine. What do you want to name her?" Emily thought for a second before quietly murmuring,

"Melody." I nodded into her shoulder.

"Melody it is."

"You'll be a great dad."

"I will be, as long as you don't leave me." I said. She scoffed slightly.

"Too late." I knew this was the truth and instead of responding buried my face into her hair, hugging her close. I listened as her breathing grew shallower until she breathed in and didn't breathe out. The cursed flat tone permeated the air and I tried to ignore everything clutching Emily tighter. People entered the room and pried me away from my wife. I barely resisted still in shock. I followed for a short while as they rolled her away before stopping myself and collapsing into a nearby chair, content to stare aimlessly and keep my mind numb.

A while later, I wasn't sure how long, an orderly came and took me to a little private room. I was soon joined by a nurse holding Melody. The nurse set the baby in my arms, and I nearly panicked, afraid I would drop the fragile thing.

"Decided a name yet?" I glanced at the nurse before answering,

"Yeah. Melody Mahal Ryll." She smiled at me for a brief second.

"A beautiful name, for a beautiful child." I nodded agreeing with her completely in my head. Already I could see a touch of black that had coloured her mother's hair.I hoped Melody would take after Emily more than me.

The nurse left quietly and I stared at the small sleeping child in my arms. I didn't really know what to do and so just began to talk.

"Hello Melody. Welcome to the world. Your mommy couldn't stay very long. Sh-she had

to go home. But that's okay, I'll, I'll tell you about her and then you can know her and it'll

be like a distant memory. How about that? You want to hear about your mom?" I hesitated not knowing where to start, thinking of this as foolish. Then Melody shifted and her little hand grasped my jacket. I smiled like an idiot.

"Okay then. It really started at a little café on C street. Your mom was a waitress there and I used to go in just to see her. I don't even really like coffee. Actually I just realized how stalker is that sounded, trust me I was not a stalker ... well maybe a little bit. Anyway ..."

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When Melody turned thirteen she approached her father with the picture he always kept on the mantle of her mother. She asked him why her middle name was the Filipino word for love. He took the picture and for one of the last times pulled her into his lap.

"Because," he told her, "your mother made one last little joke on my part before leaving."

"What joke?"

"Knock knock."

"Who's there?"

"Love."

"Love who?"

"Love you." He then preceded to place the picture on the coffee table and tickle Melody. She laughed and bolted away. He grinned and turned to the kitchen. It was already late and he needed to make dinner.

Emily looked on forever encapsulated in her glass frame, and smiled. 

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The word mahal is a version of google translates filipino word for love. The one I know which is legitimate is pag-ibig but I didn't think they worked for a middle name.

Anyway, See ya later,

Sereh