BLUE - Caitlin Szmerling

FIVE

When we arrive at the hospital, I notice that there are some news reporters. I was a bit confused, considering I would've thought that security would've stopped them. We walk up to the door, only to get stopped. "Sorry, but you can't come in, only patients are allowed." I look at her shocked. "Excuse me? My so- my child is in there and I plan on seeing he- them. So if you would be so kind as to step aside that would be great." Bella exclaims. The security guard is shocked but steps aside for us to walk in. We walk up to the receptionist, who looks shocked to see us, but leads us to where Jamie is after we asked for him.

As we get to the room, I notice some very important-looking people standing outside, talking quietly as if to stop anyone from overhearing. I ignore that and walk into the room where they keep the newborns that need to be watched. I look over to where Jamie is placed, only to find investigators surrounding his crib.

"What the hell is going on here?" I hear Bella yell, but I am too focused on trying to get to my baby. One of the investigators stops me. "Ma'am, you can't get through, there has been a baby born a boy." I look at her with shock. "I am aware of that, so if you will please step aside so I can get to my son, that would be great." I push past her to get to Jamie. People try to stop me but I can't. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but this is a police investigation, we can't let you get to your son." Another investigator tells me. "I understand why you may want to, but as you are aware, the male species was wiped out. We need to work out why this has happened." I look at her with a blank expression. "I understand that I do. I was also shocked when I found it was a boy. But that is my son, an infant. So if you want to do an investigation, you have to go through me first. I will not allow you to touch my son. Now step away from his crib." She sighed, knowing I was right. "Alright, everyone step away and get out, I need to speak with the mothers." Everyone walked out.

"Hey, get your hands off of me." I hear Bella yell. I turn around to see a police officer trying to lead her out of the room. "I'm the other mother to that baby." She exclaimed. The police officer apologised and walked out, it now being Bella, Jamie, the investigator and I in the room, along with the other newborn babies. "Okay, I understand why you would be protective over your... son. But we need to work out why this has happened. We need to do some tests to work out the cause of this." She explained. "I understand. But you had no right to be in here, hands all over our son. Especially without our permission. We weren't even notified." Bella tells the investigator. "I want to wait until we figure out what we want to happen with our son before any investigation starts." The investigator tries to interject Bella, but she doesn't allow it. "Now I want you to leave my family and I alone, and also get rid of those reporters outside of the hospital, it is not necessary." The investigator looks defeated, knowing there isn't anything she can do to get around this. "Okay, but here is my card. My name is Sarah Davis, all my contact information is on the card. When you are ready to speak about this, please call me. But once your son turns eighteen, we have the right to take him in for questioning. Thank you." She walks out of the room, leaving Bella and me alone.

All I wanted to do now was cry. How can this happen? I know I was worried about motherhood but I never expected to have to go through this. I feel tears drip down my face as I look over at Bella, whose face was mirroring my expression. "So what are we going to do?" I ask. She places her hands on my upper arms, looking straight into my eyes. "We are going to keep quiet, we will homeschool him, and when we are ready, we will speak to the police. Okay?" I nod my head, feeling the tears begin to slow down. It was only sinking in now how crazy this is. I just gave birth to a boy! A male! Men haven't been around in 60 years. What was it that made this change.

I am brought out of my thoughts when Bella begins to pull me towards Jamie's incubator. I peer in to see my beautiful son sleeping peacefully. How can something so different, be so calm and laid back. I push my hands into the two holes on the side of the incubator, running the back of my hand over his soft skin. I feel down his arms, and onto his fingers. I feel his grasp onto one of my fingers. I begin to feel tears well up in my eyes again. "Hey, what's wrong?" Bella whispers to me. "Nothing." I shake my head, chuckling slightly. "Absolutely nothing." She walks to the other side of the incubator to mirror my actions, pushing her hands through the holes of the incubator. We stay like this for half an hour, staring in awe at our son, in disbelief that we actually created a human being.

"Excuse me, but visiting hours are finished. Unfortunately, I am going to have to ask you to leave." I look up to see a nurse standing at the door. Bella and I stand up to leave, but just before, I press two fingers to my lips and then touch Jamie's cheek. "I love you, my beautiful boy," I whisper. I then walked up to Bella, who is waiting by the door for me, and grasped her hand. We walk out of the room, and then out of the hospital and into the car.

"Do you want to get some food? We haven't eaten since breakfast." I nod my head in reply, leaning against the window as we pull out of the hospital car park, wishing we could stay in the hospital until Jamie was allowed to leave.

"What would you like to eat?" I hear Bella ask. I shrug my shoulders, not really caring about what we eat. All I could think about was Jamie, and how much he is going to struggle in this world. What if something like that happens again, if we get swarmed by news reporters and police officers questioning us about him again. I don't know if I would be able to handle it.

Bella sighs, realizing I'm not in the mood to talk and just decides what to eat herself. She pulls into a small restaurant car park and gets out of the car and walks around to my side. She opens my door carefully since my head was still leaning against the window. She crouches down next to me and grasps onto my hands. "I know it is difficult having to leave Jamie at the hospital." She whispers. "But I can assure you that he safe there. Nothing is going to happen." She rubs the back of my hand with her thumb. "So maybe to help get your mind off of all this, we can go inside, share a pizza, have a small date. What do you say?" I sigh, pizza sounds really good. "Okay, let's go." I give her a small smile.

We walk into the restaurant and sit down at a table immediately. I look through the menu, seeing all the delicious foods. "Hey babe," I call out. "Yes, my love," Bella replies. I was wondering if we could, maybe not share a meal? I'm really hungry." Bella chuckles at my request. "Of course, I'm glad to see your true self coming through again." I smile at her comment.

I continue to look through the options when I feel a pair of eyes on me. I look up to see Bella looking at the menu, which means it isn't her. I look around to see someone a few tables over, looking in our direction. As soon as we make eye contact, she looks down at the menu in front of her. It was a bit odd, but I dismiss it. It's probably just someone looking over here and was caught in the act.

Once our food arrived, we both begin to dig in, not realising how hungry we truly were. Every now and again, I look up and around the restaurant. I notice the same person a couple of rows overlooking in Bella and I's direction. I decide to ignore it again, thinking that maybe it is a coincidence.

We finished our food, paid and headed out the door. I eyed the woman that seemed to be watching us for a second before we left. I considered telling Bella about that woman, but decided against it, knowing how protective she can get when someone is out of place or doing something wrong.

Once we get home, we decide to go straight to bed, since we were so tired from the very eventful day. As Bella falls asleep next to me, I can't help but think about that woman. It's probably nothing to worry about, but what if it is something to worry about. I'm scared something might happen to us, to Jamie, to my family. I sigh, deciding to not dwell on it too much. I close my eyes, eventually falling into a deep sleep.