The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth, chapter 11
*Joe's POV*
I woke up in the middle of the night from Sadie shaking my shoulder rapidly.
"J-Joe. I'm having a contraction. The twins are coming two months early," she said, straining to talk.
"What?! They're- But- Are you sure?" I asked, getting out of the bed.
"Yes. They're gonna be premature," sadie said fearfully. She exhaled, which was a sure sign that the contraction had ended.
"Okay. Just-just stay calm. I'm already clothed so we can just head out now."
"Joe, we have to pack our bags first. We're gonna be there for a while."
"Right. You just sit tight, and I'll pack our bags," I said, opening our closet as quickly as possible and pulling out a suitcase. I filled it with some of my clothes, and put some of Sadie's clothes in it. I zipped it up, amazed at how fast I was able to pack the bag, and helped Sadie out of the bed.
We walked down the stairs, and I rushed over to the kitchen to get my car keys. I spun around and sped over to the door. Sadie stayed in the doorway as I went to the garage to get the Hybrid. I pulled it out of the garage and Sadie came out. She sat in the passenger seat and did her seatbelt up as I turned the radio down.
"Sadie, it's gonna be okay. So, what happens if babies are premature? I don't know. I only read what happens while your wife's pregnant, and I didn't read about once the babies come."
I looked at Sadie who had tears in her eyes. She was shaking with fear.
"Th-They can be really small. They can have heart defects, or they might not make it. They might be alright though."
What?! Our children might not make it? Oh God, imagine if they didn't make it. That would be absolute torture. I want these kids to live. I don't want them to have any health problems as a result of this.
I stayed silent, wrapped up in my thoughts. I was nervous as hell, speeding down the street towards the hospital. It was raining outside so it was hard for me to see. The hospital was really close by, and it didn't take long to get to there. I wanted to help Sadie, but I didn't know what to say. Our children's lives were on the line.
I pulled up into the parking lot and paid my $5.00 fare. I got out and opened Sadie's car door. She stood up and grasped my hand tightly, as we went into the hospital as fast as possible to shield the rain. A look of sheer terror was on her face. It wasn't the look she had on her face when she knew her life was on the line, during that fateful day in the hospital when we were just teenagers. Nor was it the same look as when she was crammed with work and couldn't get it finished by the deadline. This was a look, clearly expressing her thoughts.
Our children's lives were on the line. This was a completely different feeling. And I was feeling it too.
Once we arrived at the hospital, everything was hectic. We were directed to the maternity ward, and our family arrived once doctors had called. They called my parents, and my parents called Sadie's family. They were waiting outside our hospital room, sitting in benches. I didn't get a chance to talk to them since we were in an emergency situation. We didn't have time.
I sat beside Sadie who was lying in her bed. I held her hand tightly, kissing her cheek. The doctor checking our children's heartbeats turned to another doctor. They muttered something I couldn't hear, and then turned to us.
"Joseph and Sarah, we are going to have to perform an emergency Cesarean Section. The baby's heart rates are slowing rapidly and we need them out as soon as possible. We need to get them into incubators. We're going to wheel you into surgery now Sarah," the doctor said. I turned to Sadie, tears welling up in my eyes. Sadie was white as a ghost.
"Sadie it's gonna be alright. I'm here for you, and so is the family," I said, trying not to cry. I was really afraid. I don't even want to think about what it would be like if the twins didn't make it.
A doctor opened the door to our hospital room and wheeled Sadie out. I followed close behind. The family rushed over to us and I stopped to tell them what was happening. Sadie had to get into surgery as quick as possible, so she couldn't delay.
"Joseph what's happening?" my Dad asked fearfully. His eyes were red. Hell, everyone's eyes were red.
"She has to have an emergency C Section. The babies' heart rates are slowing and they need to be out as soon as possible, or they won't make it."
"Fuck. Fuck no I have to see Sadie before the surgery," Tre said, taking his glasses off.
"O-Okay. They might let you all see her before the surgery," I said, leading them to the room they had taken Sadie to.
I shook as I walked to the hospital room. These children meant the world to me. I had never even touched them and they still meant so much.
I entered the room and the doctors pulled me in.
"Doctor, can some visitors see Sadie before the operation?" I asked.
"Well, alright. Only one person though. We don't want germs in here. You have two minutes," the doctor said. I sped over to Sadie and knelt down beside her.
"Sadie, your Dad's gonna come talk to you before the operation."
"Okay," She whispered, as a doctor put a cap on her head. Her two, brown braids hung from beneath the cap.
I kissed her forehead and got up to get her Dad. I opened the door and looked at Tre.
"They said only one person could come right now. So I guess that's Tre," I said.
Tre followed me into the room where our children would enter the world, and the room where they might even leave the world.
Tre walked over to Sadie and kneeled down beside her.
*Sadie's POV*
My Dad stooped down next to me and grasped my hand.
"Sadie, no matter what happens I want you to promise me something," he said, his eyes red.
I nodded, biting my lip. The thought of having my stomach opened wasn't even bothering me that much. It was the thought of my children not making it. Not ever getting to see their parents' faces.
"Sadie...I just want you to know that you're the strongest person I know. You've been through so much. I'm amazed. I really am. So Sadie...please don't give up. Don't give up on me, Joe, the family, and don't give up on yourself."
I burst into tears as Dad put his arms around me and hugged me tight.
"I love you Sadie. So much."
"I love you too Dad."
Dad kissed my forehead and got up from where he was.
"I better get going now. I'll see you the next chance I get. I'll be waiting outside this whole time, and everyone else will be with me."
I nodded again, as he left the room. A screen had been put up near my neck so I couldn't see my stomach. Surgeons surrounded me with tools and needles. Joe stood beside me with a blue cap and a blue, fabric mask blocking his mouth. He was wearing the same jumpsuit as all the other surgeons.
Joe kneeled, and held my hand.
"I love you, Sadie."
"Love you too."
A surgeon looked over at me and pulled down the mask by his mouth.
"Sarah, we are about to give you the anesthetic. It will kick in almost immediately, and we will commence the surgery. It may start getting difficult to breathe, so we have an oxygen mask for you to put on once we start."
I felt needles enter my abdomen, and I cringed. I heard machines in the room beep, and I tried to tune everything out, and just listen to Joe speak to me.
"Sadie...I didn't get a chance to ask you this before..."
"What is it Joe?" I asked him, looking into his frightened eyes.
"Uh...I was going to ask you..."
"I'm sorry Joseph but we need to commence surgery now," the doctor said, placing an oxygen mask on my face.
I held Joe's hand tightly as I was opened up. I could feel it slightly, but not very much. I got dizzy, knowing that my insides were exposed. I looked up at the ceiling, but then quickly looked down, because I could see a reflection from the metal duct above me. I shut my eyes and waited for a sign that meant my children were alive.
As my eyes were shut, and I tuned out everything around me, a thought popped into my head.
Mom.
I knew she was watching me from wherever she was. It was amazing, after ten years of not seeing her, I remembered her looks so well. Long, flowing brown hair. Dyed of course. She was a premature gray. She had beautifully, naturally tanned skin. Her eyes, identical to my big brown ones. She was tall like me, and had a smile that could tame the wildest beast. All in all, she was beautiful. She taught me so much. I know she's here with me now. She gave up, sure. But she's still with me. Wherever I go. Whatever I've done, she was with me.
Mom...if you hear me, I want you to keep watching over me. I love you, and I'm not mad at you for leaving. That was your choice. I respect that. I know that there were better choices you could have made... But it was how fate intended it to be. I'll always love you, and I know you still feel the same.
I ended my little prayer to my mom, and tried my best to continue tuning everything out, but I couldn't completely.
I heard doctors rustle around, grabbing tools and other things. They occasionally yelled, or bossed each other around.
I felt Joe's clammy hand pulsing in mine. I felt faint and tried to stay conscious. As soon as I thought I was about to pass out, and my vision started to get blurry.
I heard a baby's cry.
I woke up in the middle of the night from Sadie shaking my shoulder rapidly.
"J-Joe. I'm having a contraction. The twins are coming two months early," she said, straining to talk.
"What?! They're- But- Are you sure?" I asked, getting out of the bed.
"Yes. They're gonna be premature," sadie said fearfully. She exhaled, which was a sure sign that the contraction had ended.
"Okay. Just-just stay calm. I'm already clothed so we can just head out now."
"Joe, we have to pack our bags first. We're gonna be there for a while."
"Right. You just sit tight, and I'll pack our bags," I said, opening our closet as quickly as possible and pulling out a suitcase. I filled it with some of my clothes, and put some of Sadie's clothes in it. I zipped it up, amazed at how fast I was able to pack the bag, and helped Sadie out of the bed.
We walked down the stairs, and I rushed over to the kitchen to get my car keys. I spun around and sped over to the door. Sadie stayed in the doorway as I went to the garage to get the Hybrid. I pulled it out of the garage and Sadie came out. She sat in the passenger seat and did her seatbelt up as I turned the radio down.
"Sadie, it's gonna be okay. So, what happens if babies are premature? I don't know. I only read what happens while your wife's pregnant, and I didn't read about once the babies come."
I looked at Sadie who had tears in her eyes. She was shaking with fear.
"Th-They can be really small. They can have heart defects, or they might not make it. They might be alright though."
What?! Our children might not make it? Oh God, imagine if they didn't make it. That would be absolute torture. I want these kids to live. I don't want them to have any health problems as a result of this.
I stayed silent, wrapped up in my thoughts. I was nervous as hell, speeding down the street towards the hospital. It was raining outside so it was hard for me to see. The hospital was really close by, and it didn't take long to get to there. I wanted to help Sadie, but I didn't know what to say. Our children's lives were on the line.
I pulled up into the parking lot and paid my $5.00 fare. I got out and opened Sadie's car door. She stood up and grasped my hand tightly, as we went into the hospital as fast as possible to shield the rain. A look of sheer terror was on her face. It wasn't the look she had on her face when she knew her life was on the line, during that fateful day in the hospital when we were just teenagers. Nor was it the same look as when she was crammed with work and couldn't get it finished by the deadline. This was a look, clearly expressing her thoughts.
Our children's lives were on the line. This was a completely different feeling. And I was feeling it too.
Once we arrived at the hospital, everything was hectic. We were directed to the maternity ward, and our family arrived once doctors had called. They called my parents, and my parents called Sadie's family. They were waiting outside our hospital room, sitting in benches. I didn't get a chance to talk to them since we were in an emergency situation. We didn't have time.
I sat beside Sadie who was lying in her bed. I held her hand tightly, kissing her cheek. The doctor checking our children's heartbeats turned to another doctor. They muttered something I couldn't hear, and then turned to us.
"Joseph and Sarah, we are going to have to perform an emergency Cesarean Section. The baby's heart rates are slowing rapidly and we need them out as soon as possible. We need to get them into incubators. We're going to wheel you into surgery now Sarah," the doctor said. I turned to Sadie, tears welling up in my eyes. Sadie was white as a ghost.
"Sadie it's gonna be alright. I'm here for you, and so is the family," I said, trying not to cry. I was really afraid. I don't even want to think about what it would be like if the twins didn't make it.
A doctor opened the door to our hospital room and wheeled Sadie out. I followed close behind. The family rushed over to us and I stopped to tell them what was happening. Sadie had to get into surgery as quick as possible, so she couldn't delay.
"Joseph what's happening?" my Dad asked fearfully. His eyes were red. Hell, everyone's eyes were red.
"She has to have an emergency C Section. The babies' heart rates are slowing and they need to be out as soon as possible, or they won't make it."
"Fuck. Fuck no I have to see Sadie before the surgery," Tre said, taking his glasses off.
"O-Okay. They might let you all see her before the surgery," I said, leading them to the room they had taken Sadie to.
I shook as I walked to the hospital room. These children meant the world to me. I had never even touched them and they still meant so much.
I entered the room and the doctors pulled me in.
"Doctor, can some visitors see Sadie before the operation?" I asked.
"Well, alright. Only one person though. We don't want germs in here. You have two minutes," the doctor said. I sped over to Sadie and knelt down beside her.
"Sadie, your Dad's gonna come talk to you before the operation."
"Okay," She whispered, as a doctor put a cap on her head. Her two, brown braids hung from beneath the cap.
I kissed her forehead and got up to get her Dad. I opened the door and looked at Tre.
"They said only one person could come right now. So I guess that's Tre," I said.
Tre followed me into the room where our children would enter the world, and the room where they might even leave the world.
Tre walked over to Sadie and kneeled down beside her.
*Sadie's POV*
My Dad stooped down next to me and grasped my hand.
"Sadie, no matter what happens I want you to promise me something," he said, his eyes red.
I nodded, biting my lip. The thought of having my stomach opened wasn't even bothering me that much. It was the thought of my children not making it. Not ever getting to see their parents' faces.
"Sadie...I just want you to know that you're the strongest person I know. You've been through so much. I'm amazed. I really am. So Sadie...please don't give up. Don't give up on me, Joe, the family, and don't give up on yourself."
I burst into tears as Dad put his arms around me and hugged me tight.
"I love you Sadie. So much."
"I love you too Dad."
Dad kissed my forehead and got up from where he was.
"I better get going now. I'll see you the next chance I get. I'll be waiting outside this whole time, and everyone else will be with me."
I nodded again, as he left the room. A screen had been put up near my neck so I couldn't see my stomach. Surgeons surrounded me with tools and needles. Joe stood beside me with a blue cap and a blue, fabric mask blocking his mouth. He was wearing the same jumpsuit as all the other surgeons.
Joe kneeled, and held my hand.
"I love you, Sadie."
"Love you too."
A surgeon looked over at me and pulled down the mask by his mouth.
"Sarah, we are about to give you the anesthetic. It will kick in almost immediately, and we will commence the surgery. It may start getting difficult to breathe, so we have an oxygen mask for you to put on once we start."
I felt needles enter my abdomen, and I cringed. I heard machines in the room beep, and I tried to tune everything out, and just listen to Joe speak to me.
"Sadie...I didn't get a chance to ask you this before..."
"What is it Joe?" I asked him, looking into his frightened eyes.
"Uh...I was going to ask you..."
"I'm sorry Joseph but we need to commence surgery now," the doctor said, placing an oxygen mask on my face.
I held Joe's hand tightly as I was opened up. I could feel it slightly, but not very much. I got dizzy, knowing that my insides were exposed. I looked up at the ceiling, but then quickly looked down, because I could see a reflection from the metal duct above me. I shut my eyes and waited for a sign that meant my children were alive.
As my eyes were shut, and I tuned out everything around me, a thought popped into my head.
Mom.
I knew she was watching me from wherever she was. It was amazing, after ten years of not seeing her, I remembered her looks so well. Long, flowing brown hair. Dyed of course. She was a premature gray. She had beautifully, naturally tanned skin. Her eyes, identical to my big brown ones. She was tall like me, and had a smile that could tame the wildest beast. All in all, she was beautiful. She taught me so much. I know she's here with me now. She gave up, sure. But she's still with me. Wherever I go. Whatever I've done, she was with me.
Mom...if you hear me, I want you to keep watching over me. I love you, and I'm not mad at you for leaving. That was your choice. I respect that. I know that there were better choices you could have made... But it was how fate intended it to be. I'll always love you, and I know you still feel the same.
I ended my little prayer to my mom, and tried my best to continue tuning everything out, but I couldn't completely.
I heard doctors rustle around, grabbing tools and other things. They occasionally yelled, or bossed each other around.
I felt Joe's clammy hand pulsing in mine. I felt faint and tried to stay conscious. As soon as I thought I was about to pass out, and my vision started to get blurry.
I heard a baby's cry.
