Reunited at Last

Life and Death

It was a cold January evening in London. The streets were dead other than faint sirens in the distance. However, Paddington hospital was still in full swing. Illness didn't rest so neither did the staff. Each member worked hard to insure every patient got what they needed, but for every life saved another was lost.

Helena Bonham Carter lead in bed that night peacefully sleeping next to her partner Tim Burton. As the night turned to morning Helena woke up with a start. Her sheets were soaked and a pain like no other had began to attack her lower half.

"Tim, oh fuck, I think the babies coming!" She screamed not expecting to see Tim dressed already.

"Calm down Hel." He said in his thick accent. "I'll call an ambulance, just wait here, our over night bag has been packed for weeks!" He added running out the room. That man knew her so well. It was odd to think they had been strangers 2 years ago. Now she was carrying his child. Helena felt calm for a second before another wave of pain hit her. Contractions... already... something seemed off.

"Tim!" Helena called her pain showing in her voice. "Hurry!"

"They'll be here as soon as they can love." He said helping her out of bed. Blood had began to trickledown her legs. "Is that normal?" Tim asked looking at his wife with concern. 'Was it normal yes it is, it the lining.' Helena reminded herself. She shouldn't panic, she'd seen her brothers birth, she'd been to all the mommy classes but the all too familiar feeling of doubt stuck to her like glue. This feeling stayed with her the entire way to the hospital. For once Tim's insomnia came in handy as he needed to reassure his wife constantly that everything was okay and that they be there soon.

When they arrived Helena was taken straight to the pregnancy ward while Tim was questioned by a doctor.

"And you said contractions started immediately?" Doctor Samuel Fisher asked Tim as Helena was taken to a room.

"Uhhh yes," he answered whipping his sweat with his sleeve. "She said they were like stabbing pains that's normal right?"

The doctor paused choosing his words carefully. "You said this was her first child? Yes," another pause. "Contractions this early on into the birth are common but... you said stabbing pain?"

"Doctor Fisher!" A nurse called from down the corridor "Sam the patient in room 10 is ready for his X-Rays!"

"Thank you Andy, will you take Mr Burton to the pregnancy ward I'm sure his wife will be waiting for him." Andy Pauls turned red when we looked at Tim and his professional demeanour almost slipped a couple times walking him up. Tim could tell the question "can I have a photo?" We're on the top of his tongue from the way he glared as they walked down.

"Where have you been? Never mind I don't caAAAHHHH!" Helena couldn't even finish her sentence before another wave of pain came over her. Nurse Pauls stayed with them though out the delivery.

Hour after hour washed over them as Helena pushed with all her might. It was a good thing they were in a hospital as Tim's hand was nearly crushed to pieces by Helena; not that he dared complain.

"Come on just a few more pushes!" The midwife yelled over Helena's constant screams. The sensation was one she'd never forget. One second she was completely full and stretched open, the next she was empty. Helena had done it she'd created life. Only the baby wasn't crying.

"Tim, Tim?" She called out feeling dizzy from the pain relief. "Why aren't they crying? Tim!" Helena called out. Her grip on his arm tightened as did his on hers.

"Helena, is so sorry" the nurse said coming back into the room. He continued to talk but Helena couldn't listen, her baby was dead.

She spent the rest of the day in hospital, time she would have used to feed or cuddle with her child had been replaced with sickening silences. Tim didn't know what to say, there was nothing to say. What could you possibly say.

It was a girl, the child, their child. Helena had a feeling it would be. Her perfect baby girl. Rose was the chosen name but this flower would never have a chance to bloom.

The day after felt empty, the all to recently paint nursery taunted them. The bright colours that once seemed full of life now only reminding them of death. The days turned into months and the months turned into years. It wasn't long before they tried again, this time succeeding. Years later again having another.

Although life seemed to go on, nothing quite felt the same. Helena always felt that all to familiar feeling that something was missing but now she knew exactly what it was.