Mission FireFly » Stories » Amy

Lighting Up the Darkness

A story by Amy

Part 2

      I’m being wheeled into a hospital room. It has white walls and there are large, green curtains separating the patients from each other. A nurse comes in and hands my mother a sterile, blue hospital gown.
      “There’s a bathroom over there where you can help her get into this,” she points across the room. I start shuffling that way when my best friend Kiera comes skidding into the room. I hadn’t even realized that my mom had called her. The nurse gives her an angry look. “Excuse me, you’re not allowed to be in here young-‘’ I cut her off.
      “She stays.” I growl through gritted teeth. The nurse gives us both a look and then exits the room. Mom hands Kiera the gown and sits down in a chair. Kiera grabs hold of my arm and helps me into the tiny room.
      “Hey, so I was right in the middle of making pasta when your mom called. When she said you were having the baby I screamed and flung macaroni ALL over the kitchen, so YOU will be helping clean it up when you get out of here,” she grins at me and I try not to laugh as I’m pretty sure that would hurt. Instead I just grin and grab the gown out of her hand.
      “So are you going to help me into this stupid outfit?” I ask. She gives me a mischievous grin and pulls a camera out of her bag.
      “I’m even gonna take pictures!” I can’t help but giggle, causing me to wince. Seeing that, Kiera goes into serious mode and starts helping me out of my baggy sweatpants and oversized sweater. When we finally get the ridiculous gown over me, she whips out her camera. “Smile!” I muster a small grin and stick a thumb up. The flash is enough to make me almost faint and Kiera grabs my arm to steady me. Hauling me over to the hospital bed, which my mom helps her get me into, I try not to cry. Once I’m lying there though I can’t help it. Tears slowly roll down my cheeks as I look around at all the wires and monitors near me. Quickly I shut my eyes and remember my last memory for the day.

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      The phone drops out of my hand as I scream for my mom. Thinking that my ever-growing stomach has finally burst, she comes racing around the corner.
      “Is it time?” she pants.
      “Chase was in an accident, I need to get to the hospital!” Tears are streaming down my face and my voice is near hysterics. Relief washes over my mom's face for a moment, once she realizes the baby is not on its way. Then she grabs her purse and walks towards the door.
      “Let's go,” she says. I move as fast as I can towards the car. Not for the first time in many months, I look down at my belly and wish it would just flatten itself out again. As soon as I’m in the car my mom floors it to the hospital. The whole time I’m sitting there I’m remembering the last thing Chase said to me. “I love you Paige, and I’ll always be here for you. Promise,” I can’t help wondering if those were the last words that I will ever hear from his lips. When we get to the hospital, I race into the emergency waiting room. Chase’s parents and older brother are there and from the way they are crying, it can’t be good. Chase’s parents notice me just as a doctor walks into the room and asks for them. I watch him shake his head and I push past them, moving way too fast for my body, until I find Chase’s room. I walk in and see his body lying there. He is all connected to wires and monitors. His face is covered in scratches and blood, and when I touch his hand it’s cold. I crumple to the floor, as my whole body shakes with tears. I later find out that he was in a head-on collision, and according to the cops he never stood a chance. As I sit on the floor covered in tears, there is only one thought running through my mind, over and over. You lied Chase, you lied.

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      “Come on Paige!” Kiera’s screaming voice brings me back. There is a doctor standing at the foot of my bed and I’m in the most pain that I’ve ever been in my entire life. “Push Paige!” Kiera’s face is red and she reminds me of a football coach hollering at his team. For an insane moments I want to laugh until a sharp pain down below makes me scream in agony. I’m squeezing my mom’s hand as hard as I can and I can hear the doctor’s voice.
      “One more push Paige. Give it one more honey,” I push as hard as I can and it feels like I’ve deflated as a tiny scream matching my own fills the air. Kiera’s jumping up and down, tears streaming down her face.
      “You did it Paige! We got a baby!!” My body is hot and sweaty, and I feel like I’m going to be sick. Tears are running down my face and my mom is smoothing down my wet hair.
      “You did it honey, it’s over. You did it.” She’s murmuring over and over. I lay back on the bed trying to breathe. The nurse comes over and places a tiny bundle in my arms.
      “There you are dear, a beautiful boy. Eight pounds, five ounces,” I peel back a tiny piece of the blanket. He’s got his daddy’s brown eyes, and my blonde hair. A full cap of hair he’s got already. His nose looks kind of like Chase’s dads, but his mouth is definetly my moms. I smile as I look at my little bundle.
      “He’s perfect,” I whisper, kissing his forehead. Kiera comes over and scoops him up, holding him for inspection.
      “Come see your Auntie Kiera,” she croons softly. I smile as I see my mom watching us. I in turn watch her eyes tear up as I ask,
      “Would you like to meet your grandson, Grandma?” Kiera hands him over and my mom starts to cry just holding him. She places him back in my arms.
      “Got a name yet?” she sniffles. I smile as I look into his little face.
      “Chase,” I say, “Chase Junior,” and as I look out the hospital window at the night sky, I swear I can see his daddy’s big smile lighting up the darkness.

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