Delivery

In Siveben, one of the great empires, life was tough for most people. But for John, who called to his wife Lisa's side during her labor, the day was especially hard. He was a loving husband who deeply cared for his family. As he hurried to the birthing room, worry and care for Lisa filled his thoughts. He was ready to support her through the birth, showing his strong commitment to their life together.

As the door to the birthing chamber creaked open, Lisa's anxious wait ended with the appearance of John, her husband. Her heart swelled with joy at his arrival. "You're finally here. Today's the big day, so I believe you have no plans for today?" she asked, her voice a blend of relief and affection.

John, speaking in his low, hoarse voice, nodded and apologized. "Of course, Lisa. I closed the store early, but the traffic was terrible. Sorry, I was late."

Lisa, half-joking, and half-serious, retorted with a hint of sarcasm. "Hmph, typical of you, my good husband. But being an hour late and just saying, 'Sorry I was late,' seems a bit off, don't you think?" Her smile, though warm, carried a slightly menacing undertone.

John's nervousness was evident as he replied to Lisa, "Ah? I am sorry for the delay, and I won't do it again?" His voice, once firm, now wavered with a hint of uncertainty.

He glanced at Lisa, his eyes catching the prominent blue vein throbbing on her forehead. It was a stark reminder of the intense situation they were in. Lisa, deep in labor, was visibly struggling with the physical and emotional toll it was taking on her.

Lisa, trying to maintain her composure, sighed deeply. "Haa, just don't be late for such an important day," she said. Her tone was a mixture of exasperation and relief. "If you didn't come today, I would have never forgiven you."

John, familiar with Lisa's mannerisms, rolled his eyes in a gesture that spoke of years of understanding and adaptation to her unique personality. "Yes, I know," he acknowledged, then quickly shifted the topic to more pressing concerns. "But that aside, what did the doctors say?"

Lisa relayed the doctor's update. "Everything's fine. I can give birth at any time now. But I need to go through one more checkup. They said they'll be ready around midnight."

In the vast city of Siveben, with its massive population nearing 300 million, and globally, with a population nearing ten billion, hundreds of babies are being born each day, it was only obvious that this hospital was busy each day 

Yet even with a population of 300 million, their fighting force was mild at best, though the people of Siveben had always been known for their peaceful nature and their aversion to conflict, choosing instead to steer clear of the wars that raged around them.

Even without a wall there always seemed to be some kind of invisible wall within the Empire that separated the poor and the rich. It was a clear line, on who was deiced to live a life of wealth and poverty.

Those on the side of riches had unlimited access to the finest delicacies and lived in expensive houses and condos. Going to lavish schools and having a bright future. Then there was the other side, where every day is a struggle, living paycheck to paycheck. It was a place where gangs and criminals held sway.

Over the years, the situation had only worsened, with countless lives shattered and lost in the endless cycle of violence and despair. Meanwhile, the wealthy and the privileged stood aloof, their pockets bulging with coins, yet they chose to turn a blind eye to the plight of their fellow citizens. Their efforts to suppress the chaos were meager at best, a little sum thrown at the problem in the form of law enforcement, while the real issues festered and grew like cancer beneath the surface.

"Well, that's good," John said as he sighed, relieved. The moment John heard that his wife Lisa was pregnant, he started working night shifts at his restaurant, and he became a diligent worker for the past nine months. The work finally paid itself, and he was finally going to be a father.

"It's still a long way till midnight, so I made some food back at our restaurant. Too bad you can't get any." John teased Lisa as he ran out of the room.

A stunned silence fell over Lisa. John had always been a playful soul, quick to turn any situation into a lighthearted game, but Lisa had always held the upper hand, her wit and charm always one step ahead of his antics. Yet, now, she found herself at a loss, the words catching in her throat as she looked at him, dumbfounded. With a helpless sigh, she rubbed her pregnant belly.

....

.....

...

The long night had descended upon them like a dark cloak. John and Lisa sat, haggard and worn, having endured an interminable wait that had stretched on for what seemed like an eternity. The hours had crept by like a slow-moving tide, each moment dragging on with an unbearable weight that left them drained and fatigued. 

Suddenly, a searing agony ripped through Lisa's body like a bolt of lightning, leaving her gasping and writhing in agony. "Ahhhhh!" A scream erupted from Lisa's throat, shattering the eerie silence of the night. She clutched John's hand with a fierce grip, her nails digging deep into his skin.

John's gaze flickered down to Lisa's lower half, where he saw a dark, spreading stain seeping through the fabric of her clothes.

"Nurse! Nurse!" John shouted, calling nurses into the room. Within seconds, a group of nurses rushed into the room, their footsteps frantic as they moved to assist Lisa in her time of need.

"Her water had broken, where sending her into the birth center." The nurse's voice was calm yet authoritative as she took charge. She placed a firm hand on the bed's handles as she began to guide it through the hospital's sterile hallways and toward the birth center. And from behind, John quickly followed.

The moment they entered the room, the air changed, charged with an electric energy that hummed with anticipation. The warm, earthy tones of the walls and decor tried to create a calming effect, but the tension in the room was palpable. The doctor, clad in scrubs, stood at the foot of the bed, a stern yet comforting expression etched onto her face.

She looked up as the nurse wheeled Lisa's bed into the room, her eyes locking onto hers with a steady gaze that promised a safe delivery.

But then, the shouts and screams began, shattering the peaceful facade and filling the room with a cacophony of sound that echoed off the walls.

Lisa gritted her teeth as the nurse handed her a glass of water and a handful of pills. She knew that swallowing the painkillers was necessary to help alleviate the agony that she would undoubtedly experience during childbirth.

John sat beside her as he squeezed Lisa's hand. "Everything will be fine". John reassured Lisa. He wasn't worried. John knows Lisa is a strong woman, too strong, in fact. He knows she will overcome this crisis.

Lisa simply nodded her head.

"Shall we start?" The doctor asked.

Lisa again simply nodded her head.

With that, one hour passed.

"I see the baby!" A nurse exclaimed.

"Good, just continue what you were doing." The doctor calmly said."We are almost done, so, bear with me a little more."

Lisa's head slowly bobbed up and down as she bit down on her lower lip, trying to stifle the agony that ripped through her body. Her face was ashen and drained, with dark circles forming under her eyes, making her look like a walking corpse. Despite the painkillers coursing through her veins, the pain remained, refusing to subside even for a moment.

John sat by her, clutching her trembling hand. His eyes tightly shut, the image of Lisa's agony too much for him to bear. The only sounds he could hear were her pained moans echoing through the room.

"Ah, the baby is out." The nurse said.

John's eyes darted toward the nurse, who silently stepped aside to make way for the doctor to take charge of the delivery. As the doctor skillfully detached the baby from Lisa's body. With utmost care, the doctor gingerly placed the newborn in John's trembling arms. Despite the passing of ten agonizing seconds, the baby remained eerily silent.

"Wow, what a beautiful girl." The nurse commented. "She's sure to grow up into a beauty."

As soon as the nurse uttered a few words, a high-pitched wail filled the air. The sound of a newborn's cry echoed off the walls.

John, who was holding his newborn baby, was at a loss as he gazed down at the tiny, wriggling human in his arms. He began to sway back and forth, unsure of how to comfort the newborn's cries.

"Um, sir, you're not supposed to rock a newborn like that." The nurse gently spoke as she carefully took the baby from John's arms, cradling the newborn in her arms. She then placed the little bundle of joy beside Lisa, who looked exhausted but relieved to finally see her baby.

"Ho-ho, she started crying after seeing your face, John." Lisa's eyes lit up as she cradled her newborn in her arms, a gentle smile spreading across her face as she looked down at the tiny, fragile being. The doctor and nurse couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the new mother and her baby, the warm atmosphere in the room lifting the spirits of everyone present.

John, still holding onto the overwhelming emotions of the moment, was suddenly jolted back to reality as the nurse playfully smacked him on the back, his face breaking into a wide, joyful grin.

'I promise to give you an awesome life.' both John and Lisa swore in their hearts.