To Steal An Egg

Chapter #4

I was ran into my own room with doctors huddled around me. One of them, I'd assume the midwife, had her hands on my shoulders asking me questions.

"When is the baby supposed to be due?"

"August 29."

"Does it hurt if I push here?"

"A little."

"Where's your husband?"

"Dead."

"What's your name again?"

"Mary."

"Tell me if you need anything, okay?"

"Water!" I started to breathe deeply and my fists clenched. It was time. I closed my eyes and bit my bottom lip. My teeth sank right into the flesh.

"I-I think it-it's ready..." I began.

"Okay, remember how to breathe? Hold my hand if you need. Deep breaths!" she said and I squeezed her hand tightly and tried to breathe. I screamed and cried the pain. The horrible pain of childbirth. Breathe. Whease. Breathe. Whease. It became a rhythm until I heard a crack. Uh-oh. I looked at my hand and realized that I squeezed her hand so hard that the bone cracked.

"Ow!" she said sharply.

"Sorry!" I said. "Are you okay?!"

"No, it's fine. You keep breathing. I can get this in a cast later. Right now, I need you to do this."

"Okay, okay," I said, breathing again.

"God! Oh, Jesus Christ! AUGH!" I screamed. I'm not religious, but those words kept me from saying anything worse. The midwife grabbed my shoulders again. She felt pain in her right hand, I could tell, but she didn't show it.

"Breathe! Mary, breathe!" she yelled at my face.

"Can't!" I cried. I tried to gasp for air, but I couldn't.

"Yes you can! You need to!" I took a deep breath and felt the tingling sensation in my throat. I pointed at the water glass, but I was able to hold my dry throat back and continue to cry. The doctors ran out with the newborn baby. They ran out with Rowan before I could even see him.