Sam and Ariel Smith step outside of their apartment in San Myshuno, New York, one evening as the sun begins to set. Ariel is in her ninth month of pregnancy and she’s taking the advice she’s heard about getting out and walking around in hopes of starting labor soon.
After some time walking, they buy some food from one of the street vendors. Ariel moans as she rubs her back.
“Are you okay?” Sam asks her.
“Fine,” Ariel says, “but not in labor yet. Unfortunately.”
Sam gives her an encouraging smile. “It’ll happen soon.”
They walk a bit more after eating as darkness falls around them and lights everywhere in the city shine in the night.
Back at their apartment, Sam gives Ariel a massage to help her feel better after all that walking.
***
“You’re up early,” Ariel says the next morning when she finds Sam in the kitchen. “I thought you don’t have work today.”
“I don’t,” he says. “But I thought I’d make breakfast. So you sit down and I’ll bring it to you when it’s done.”
Ariel sits, but she’s still groaning and rubbing her back. “If this baby doesn’t come soon, I don’t know what I’ll do. I’m about to go crazy!”
Sam brings her a bowl of breakfast and sits down at the table. “You’re strong, I know you can get through this last bit. It won’t be long before the baby is here.”
Since he was nice enough to get up early and make breakfast, Ariel insists on being the one to clean up.
But only a few minutes into washing the dishes, a sudden pain hits through her. And then another. And then she knows the time she’s been waiting for has finally arrived.
Ariel tries to breathe like they taught her in the birthing class, but the pain of each contraction is getting worse as each minute passes.
Sam is still outside freaking out.
Finally, they’re taken to a delivery room, Ariel still holding her stomach tight with every contraction and Sam still freaking out.
The delivery isn’t too long, something Ariel will always be thankful for, and she and the newborn stay in the hospital for a couple of days. But then they are finally able to go back home and welcome their son, Alexander Smith. He’s named in honor of Sam’s twin sister Lexi, the aunt little Alex will never get to know. But Sam is happy to honor her memory in this little boy.
Birthdays:
June 4 - William Lloyd - 61
June 8 - Mona Wiggins - 34
June 14 - Emily Smith - 15
June 28 - Matthew Lloyd - 16
Anniversaries:
June 13 - Edwin & Darcy Chase - 14 years
Welcome Alex! Looks like he might take more after his mother, at least so far?
ReplyDeleteI think I forgot what happened to Lexi?
He does take after her so far! We'll see if he inherits anything from his dad. :)
DeleteLexi's death was part of an ROS. She died from kidney failure. :( https://pinehollow.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/in-the-sun/