I Believe in You

Virtually Impossible

"Devon, listen to me. They found Julian's car at the bottom of the lake just outside the city." Conrad told Devon who was using the day to finish moving into a new apartment.
"No, Devon. Don't panic yet. Her body wasn't in it. She could still be alive." He responded after a moment.
"Yeah. I'll let you know if I hear anything else."
He hung up and walked over to me.
"How'd he take it?" I asked.
"He ended his relationship at his wedding for a woman who might be dead now." He sighed.
"How's Eloise?" I asked.
"She's okay considering that she just found out that not only does she need a double lung transplant but now she also needs a new liver and pancreas." He sighed again finally looking up at me.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting today to be so stressful."
"I know. Have you talked to AJ about the transplant? If there's anyone we know who could pull it off it'd be him." I took his hand.
"Yeah but Bell's hesitant."
"Even after Mina's valve experiment results?"
"You know how he is. Can't handle that he makes terrible partnerships."
"Fair enough." I sighed grimacing as sharp pain cut across my low back.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah. Your daughter dropped into my pelvis so there's a bit more low back pain." I answered with a small smile.
"I have to meet with the board. I'll find you after." He kissed me and walked away.
I got up and made my rounds through the hospital, checking in with the half dozen patients I was covering before the end of my four hour shift.
As I walked back towards the nurses station I felt some pressure in my cervix followed by some wetness spilling out down my legs. I looked up and saw Nic walking passed the nurses station.
"Nic." I called to her.
"Where's Conrad?" I asked slowly walking towards the elevator.
"He's still up with the board lobbying for the triple transplant. What's wrong?" She asks rushing over and helping me the rest of the way to the elevator.
"Nic, find my husband. The baby's coming." I instructed leaning against the elevator wall.
"Go. I'm going straight to Alex. I'm okay." I assured her.
She ran off to find Conrad.
I pushed myself slowly into the labor and delivery wing.
Alex looked at me and she knew.
"Where's Conrad?" She asked rushing over to me.
"Nic's looking for him. He'll be along I'm sure." I sighed as she eased me into the wheelchair.
"Have you been timing your contractions?" She asked and I shook my head.
I gasped in pain as the contraction began coursing through my abdomen. I couldn't speak for the entire sixty seconds the contraction lasted.
"It's about time for the epidural. Let's get you in a delivery room." She said with a smile.
Baby Hawkins was definitely coming and soon. All I wanted was my husband.
Another contraction rocked me as we prepared to move me onto the delivery table.
Conrad rushed in just as the contraction subsided. I reached for him and he helped me into the bed.
"Help her get dressed in the hospital gown. I'll be right back." Alex left us alone to prepare the epidural.
"Hey, baby." He kissed my forehead before helping me out of my shirt and bra then pants and underwear.
He helped me into the gown as another contraction hit me. Conrad kept his hand on my skin until the contraction stopped.
Alex came back and started my epidural.
"I need to check your cervix, Meghan, okay?"Alex asked as I laid back on the bed.
I nodded.
"You are one stubborn woman." She chuckled.
"You're already eight centimeters dilated. You were probably in early labor for the last six hours before your water broke."
After yet another contraction, this one easily ninety seconds long, I started trembling.
"Meghan, sweetheart. You're doing amazingly, baby. You're so strong, love." Conrad said kissing my head.
"It hurts." I sighed leaning into him.
"I can't begin to imagine. It's going to be so worth it, baby. She's almost here."
I nodded as another contraction slammed into me.
"I can't do this. I can't. I can't." I cried once I was able.
"Of course you can, baby. You're the strongest woman I've ever known. You can do this. I'm right here." He assured me.
"It's time, Meghan. It's time to push. Once your next contraction hits I need you to push as hard as you can, okay?" Alex asked.
I nodded still unsure as Conrad took my hand.
The next contraction hit and I pushed as hard as I could, pain shooting through my uterus and cervix. I was certain it would rip me in half.
I struggled to breathe after the first push.
The next contraction hit me almost immediately.
"Push, Meghan." Alex urged firmly.
I screamed out as I pushed through my contraction.
"I can see her head. You're doing so good, Meghan." She told me.
Conrad kissed my temple and helped me slow my breathing before the next contraction.
I was so tired and could hardly breathe through the pain of my contractions.
Another; her whole head was out.
Another; her shoulders started pushing through.
Another; her shoulders pushed out.
Another; down to her elbows.
"Last one, Meghan. Really big push, okay?" She coached me.
I screamed again, pushing with everything I had to finish birthing my daughter.
I cried the moment I heard her little angel cries.
"Dad, come cut her umbilical cord." She called to Conrad.
I nodded.
I managed to watch him cut her cord.
Alex put her on my chest causing me to cry harder.
"Hi. Hi, baby." I cooed as she quieted against my chest.
Another much smaller contraction came.
"I need one more small push." She told me.
The next contraction hit and I pushed but the wonder of my newborn daughter distracted me from the pain.
I fell asleep at some point after I was cleaned up and situated with a maternity pad and moved to an actual hospital room with my husband and newborn daughter.

Sarah Elizabeth Hawkins
February fourth at twelve fifteen in the morning
Fifteen inches long weighing seven pounds and five ounces.