The last contraction banded through my stomach as the nurses spread my legs further apart and the Asian one helped me press the epidural button.
"Why do you have that annoying thing? I thought you wanted to feel the pain," asked Tom.
"Well, let's just say I'm too much of a chicken and I cry a lot when I'm in pain," I explained. After nine full months, I was ready to give birth to my daughter-yes, we found it was a girl and thankfully Tom didn't have a problem with it. I pressed the epidural button again when another stupid contraction ripped inside my abdomen.
"It's still weird to think about this; having a baby after nine months and carrying a human being inside me," I said. A black nurse checked between my legs and gasped, "My God, her head is right there."
"I'm not ready to push though," I whimpered.
"You are ready," she argued.
I squeezed Tom's hand tighter and tears fall off my face as I used the epidural again, already feeling the head slip out of my womb. "I'm scared, babe," I simpered.
"It'll be okay, Emily. It'll be okay," he comforted. All the nurses came to my legs and one of them in turquoise said, "All right, honey. Time to push."
I breathed heavily and groaned as I forced the head out through gritted teeth. "Okay, that's the first push! Do it again!" I sobbed in pain and disappointingly pushed again, feeling the arms and torso slide out of my vagina.
"She's got dark hair!" said a happy nurse.
I glanced at Tom whose knuckles were turning extra white than his usual skin tone but had water forming in his eyes.
"You're almost done, okay? Push on count of three," instructed a blonde one.
I vigorously nodded my head and screamed as the pain faded when the legs were out, the cord slithering out along with them. I panted raggedly as the baby took her first breath and wailed somberly. I released Tom's hand, not even caring about the placenta that dripped out of my body.
"Oh, my God, Emily, you did it!" he exclaimed.
"Told you I'm not a chicken," I white-lied, shaking vehemently.
"You look really pale."
"'Cause I just gave birth," I said.
They washed our daughter and snapped the cord off her navel, swaddling her in a Huggie diaper and pink blanket.
They even added a small hat with a matching bow on her head.
I held my baby close and nuzzled her tiny nose. "Seven pounds," said the Asian girl.
"A wonderfully healthy baby girl for a happy couple. Tell us do you have any others?"
"Uhhh, this was our first child," added Tom, helping Mia-our baby- settle her mouth on my nipple.
Latching on, she sucked hard, drawing the milk out of my breast.
I was too distracted by this little angel God granted me in my belly.
"Hey, when I can feed Mia?" teased my husband.
"When we get home, I'll pump and put my milk in a bottle."
That night, Mia was sleeping beside my bed and Tom was talking to Sean.
"I gotta FaceTime the girls. They'll be shocked," I said.
I dialed Destiny and muttered, "My God, I look like crap."
When it worked, she was munching on a cupcake.
"What up, girl?" she said, mouth full of icing.
"Just wanna let you know I gave birth today," I said.
Her dark blue eyes widened and she asked, "You kidding me, right?"
I turned the camera to Mia and Destiny cooed, "Oh, my God, she's so beautiful! Did y'all name her yet?"
"We've decided for 'Mia'," I answered.
"That's soo cute for her! I'm so happy for y'all!"
"How's your mom?"
"Oh, she's good; wait until I tell her about Mia."
"Also, another thing: my butthole hurts like hell," I added.
She laughed and finished her cupcake, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
"I gotta go. Do you think I'll be able to visit you?"
"Hospital doesn't allow people after delivery."
"Fuck those hoes!"
"Geez, Destiny! Keep your voice down! I got a baby!"
"So what? Babies can't hear for even ten miles."
"You are so full of arrogance, aren't you?"
"Why you think they call me 'Miss Loudmouth' for?"
"I gotta get some sleep, 'kay?"
"All right, sleep well, mama."
"Thanks."
I hung up and rested my head on the pillow.
I saw Mia squirm in her incubator, telling the guys, "Does she need to be fed again?"
"You just fed her three minutes ago," Sean answered.
Tom lifted her up and unwrapped her diaper, quickly sniffing her bottom.
"That's what's wrong," he realized.
YOU ARE READING
Our Wild Spirits
Ficțiune generalăIf only I had another chance at life, thought insecure Emily when she seeks shelter in the arms of her gentle, ruggedly beautiful boyfriend Tom from the abusive clutches of her father after his sadistic beating. She finally finds the freedom she's b...
