Struggles (3)

CHAPTER 3: HEALTHY1

'I see the end! I see the light! There is an end to this wretched maze!' I felt like running, but my legs were like jello under me.2

"MOM! She's trying to tighten her grip!...Kate?"3

My eyes open slowly, shuttering to blink the heaviness out. I struggle to breath on my own but to no avail, instead I find myself choking on the breathing tube.4

"Doctor! DOCTOR! My baby is awake! HELP HER!"5

The doctor rushes in with a whole set of nurses at his heals. The sudden commotion and immediate closterphobia frightens me so much that I couldn't hold back my scream of bloody murder. One kind nurse guided the tube out of my throat. Another nurse kept tabs on my stats and the others adjusted the IVs, along with a lot of other things that I couldn't quite see from my point of view... I'm back!6

"Hey sis!" Kelsey said, staring down into my eyes, with tears in her own.7

"Hi..How long have I been gone?"8

"Almost six months, babe." my mother told me.9

I looked down at my eight months of pregnant stomach, "Wha...?"10

"I guess that b.a.s.t.a.r.d left you pregnant when he tried to kill you!" My mother said with a look of disgust on her face.11

I smile, allowing tears to roll down the sides of my face and placing my free hand on my belly. "That's ok. I'd be happy to keep this baby...Is it healthy?" I asked, turning my attention to the doctor.12

Kelsey let a laugh escape her lips, "You've been in a coma, beaten nearly to death, and still you prefer to care more about your baby than yourself..."13

"Yes. We've kept a close watch on this baby, by specific instructions of your sister. One of these IVs provides your body with proper nutients to take care of yourself and your baby. Would you care to see it?"14

I nodded, of course I want to see my baby! The doctor pulls out the sonogram machine, rubs gel on my belly and then places the cold metal on my stomach without warning, "Sorry." He moved it around as he stared at the screen, "There," he pointed at the screen, "You see?"15

"Yes," I sighed, "It's beautiful."16

"Would you like to know the sex?"17

"No, thank you. I'll plan for either... wait... I can't go back to that house, not with that man there..."18

"It's ok," my mom replied, "Jacob is being charged for attempted murder...But I'd love it if you sold and came back to live with us..."19

"I think I'm gonna... ... ... yea, I'll stay with you, until I make enough money to settle down with this baby."20

"Good, that means that we'll have a full house again!" My mother exclaims.21

I was let out of the hospital after a couple of weeks of being awake. I'm so glad to be able to do things on my own again. I mean, simple things...like washing my own hair, brushing my teeth, getting up and just walking around. So many times people take those simple things, that I hadn't been able to do, for granted...22

My belly continues growing out of control! I made it to the end of the eighth month and my baby is so big that I can't even see my feet. I can't wait to have my baby in my arms and to be able to hold him/her close to me.23

I woke up early this morning with pains. They were shooting up my sides and my stomach. I howled in pain as I tried to get out of my bed and to the bathroom. My sister was immediately by my side with my mother, and my father at the doorway. "What's wrong sweetie?"24

"It HuRtS! Ahhhhh!" I groan, my legs crumbling beneath me.