I got the call at about
8:30 AM. It’s going to happen today they say, I need to bring coffee for
everyone they say, I’m not going to school today they say, I need to hurry they
say. It happened at 8:52 AM. I was actually able to go see her about fifteen
minutes later. The walls are white and smooth, as is everything else. Clean.
Tidy. It smells like old people. Walking down the narrow hallway, the
florescent lights beat down on top of us, illuminating the way. My armpits are
either sweating because of the lights or because I was nervous. Gage, my best
friend, walks a step behind me, carrying the tray of Starbucks beverages we had
brought along with us. In my hands are a bunch of baby pink balloons and a
floral printed stuffed elephant. We turn down the maternity ward and walk
through the doors. A chubby Hispanic nurse at the desk is busy at work, typing
things down with a smile on her face.
“Excuse me?” I say just above a whisper.
Not even looking up from her work she replies, “What family?”
“What?” I whisper again, confused, leaning over the counter.
Looking annoyed but still smiling she replies, “Which family are you here
to see darling?”
“Treena Kilsdonk? Well actually her real name is Matreena Kilsdonk, but
it might be under Matreena Revoir? That’s her boyfriend’s name. Not Matreena.
Revoir.”
Looking back down at her work she replies, “Treena is in room 2A to
your left.”
I say thank you and
shuffle down the hallway to my sister’s room. Treena is sitting upright,
looking normal. You wouldn’t have guessed that she just ejected a 5 lb., 12 oz.,
19 inch baby. Treena’s eyes glisten and sparkle when she sees me, “Would you
like to hold her?” I tried to protest, “I’ll drop her, she’s too fragile.”
Treena doesn’t listen to my words as she lifts and slides the little thing in
the crook of my arm. We kind of just stare at each other for a while. Then she
smiled, my little niece smiled. A sleepy, comfortable, happy baby smile. “She’s
beautiful” I whisper as I felt her velvety soft head.
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