Adventures of Sinbad and Layla

The First Kiss Stealer (Part IV)

A month went by. Layla was coming out of her room a bit more and talking to everyone but she was still mourning. They didn't expect her to be back to normal straight away but they were pleased to see the progress. In that time, Shaheen made Sinbad take her for regular checkups at the hospital to make sure hers and the baby's health was okay. She was in the clear.

She wore the necklace she had given him around her neck along with the one he gave her. However, his one was longer and went down to her stomach. She preferred it that way as she felt that the baby could be closer to it's father.

She would often sit in the garden and reminisce her time with Shujae. They were together for four years. Some may not have considered that a long amount of time but to her, that time was everything. He gave her so much love and so many memories. He travelled oceans all the time just to see her. He was forever loyal and always had a big smile on his face. And he made her so happy. She loved him more than anything and she knew she always would. She was just a 14 year old girl when she first met him and he always made her feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. But it killed her knowing that he was on his way to her before he was killed at sea.

Over the next few days, her sickness was gone and her appetite had returned. Sinbad continued to sleep on the sofa in her room because he didn't want her to be alone and she was grateful. The last thing she wanted was to be alone.

One night, she was suddenly awoken with painful cramps. She keeled over and screamed from the pain. Sinbad was instantly at her side and began panicking. With her wearing white, he could see blood leaking through her clothes lower down. He quickly lifted her in his arms and ran out of the room.

"GET A CARRIAGE NOW!" he yelled at one of the guards.

The guard hurried off upon seeing their princess in pain. Shaheen came out of his room upon hearing the commotion and ran alongside Sinbad.

"What happened?!"
"She just suddenly started screaming. She's in pain," he explained as they ran out.
Shaheen looked at the guards. "Get her to the hospital quickly!"

Once Sinbad was inside with her, the carriage began moving. Layla was still in his arms, groaning from the pain.

"You're going to be okay, Layla," he whispered. "You're going to be okay..."
She took a few deep breaths. "It hurts..."
"We'll be there soon."

The moment they arrived, he carried her out and ran into the hospital. The nurse passing by quickly called the doctor before leading them to the examination room. The doctor arrived and began making the checks. She had noticed the bleeding but didn't say anything for the moment. She rolled over the ultrasound machine and began checking for the baby. But as she moved the probe over Layla's stomach, her suspicions were confirmed.

Layla looked at the doctor. "What is it?"
The doctor looked at her sadly. "I can't find the baby, Your Highness. I'm sorry."
Sinbad frowned. "What?"
Layla shook her head as tears welled up in her eyes. "You must be mistaken. Check again." She clutched Sinbad's arm. "Tell her to check again."
The doctor lowered her head. "You're bleeding quite heavily. Along with that, there's the cramps you're experiencing and there's no sign of the baby."
"Sin..." She shook his arm as the tears spilled down her cheeks. "Tell me she's lying..." The pain became visible on her face as she began to cry. "That was all I had left of him..."
He looked at her. "I'm sorry, Layla..."

She let go of him screamed in both pain and anguish. She lost the last part of Shujae she had. Knowing that a part of him was going to be in their child kept her going. But now she had nothing of him. In the matter of two months, she had lost everything.

Sinbad tried to calm her down as she screamed and cried but he knew her reaction was just. It was unfair. She had lost her husband and her child. And the worst thing was that she blamed herself for both.