Katerina & Viviana

739 16 2
                                    

Bulgaria 1490

A woman's loud agonising scream filled the warmed up room from the flames of the dying fire. Rumours had been spreading around town like wildfire that the eldest daughter of the Petrova family had fallen pregnant out of wedlock; which the rumours were indeed true. Katerina Petrova was now giving birth to a bastard. That word made, Mr Petrov blood boil as he stood in the hallway, leant against the doorframe with his arms crossed as he heard his daughter's screams.

Viviana, the youngest twin of Katerina, stood by the bed, gripping her sister's hand as yet another of her screams pierced through the chilling night as she pushed through the pain of childbirth. The door was wide open and servants constantly came in and out, bowls of hot water, sheets and towels.

"Katerina, push! You can do it!" Viviana exclaimed in the language of their country, Bulgaria. She alternated between dabbing Katerina's head with a wet, cold cloth and massaging her swollen stomach.

"A little more dearest...a little more." Their mother instructed from her place at the end of the bed. Katerina pushed as hard as she could, letting out another cry in the process. "Push...a little more." Her mother urged her daughter.

Katherine let out a loud, pain-filled scream, squeezing her sister's hand till her knuckles turned white and furiously grabbing the sheet around her as she leant in, pushing even harder. When the baby's cries filled the air, Viviana sighed in relief and the new mother collapsed back onto the pillows trying to catch her breath. A bright smiled appeared on Mrs Pertova as she looked down at the tiny baby in her arms, covering her with some towels.

"It's a girl." she said, holding the baby up. Viviana smiled and rubbed her sister's shoulder encouragingly.

"A girl." Katherine whispered weakly as a smile pulled at the corner of her lips. Her gaze met her sisters who was grinning along with her before she looked back to her mother. "Please, mother. Let me see her." she begged as she stretched out a shaky hand. Their mother got up, moving towards Katerina, began to slowly set the baby in her arms till her husband's voice ran throughout the room.

"Woman don't!" The man hissed, stepping forward. "What are you doing?" he demanded and she bowed her head, looking ashamed.

Katherine shook her head furiously as she watched as her daughter be placed in her father's arms. He was going to take her away; she would never see her daughter again. She struggled to sit up and tried to crawl out of bed, ignoring her sore body and how ripped it felt after labour.

"Let me hold at least once." she begged. "Just once. At least once." she pleaded with her father, holding her hand out.

"Father please!" Viviana begged on her sister's behalf.

"Forget it! You and Katerina have disgraced this family!" her father shouted before carrying the baby out the door.

"Father, please!" Katerina cried out. Viviana held her back as their mother ran forward and held her.

"No, Katerina. It's better for her." But Katerina wasn't listening to her as she wailed the loss of her child.

"No, mother, please."

"Let her go...let her go, Katerina." the mother urged her daughter.

Vivienne climbed on the bed and hugged her sister from behind. "It's will be all right, Katerina." Katherine shoved their mother away from her and turned to embrace her sister.

"Please, Viviana. I want to see her." she sobbed into her shoulder.

"I know, Katerina. I know." Viviana murmured, rubbing her back soothingly.

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