Mia was stretched out.
Her breathing getting heavier.
Her contractions had increased rapidly. Probably after hearing about Lin and the situation outside. No matter how ready she was to give up everything, her heart was clenching at the moment. Both from the labour pains and the lamenting.
” My Queen, we need to do something. Her blood pressure is rising rapidly and so is her opening. It will not leave us with the option of turning the child around. ”
The midwives looked helpless.
” What happens if we deliver the baby just as it is. Feet first? ”
Jade asked.
“It can be done. But it might jeopardize the baby. It might, it might not. It’s almost a half and half chance. ”
” NO! The baby can’t be hurt. ”
The queen’s shout brought everyone back to attention.
” Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh, ”
Mia wailed as another jolt of contraction tore her hips apart.
” Stand back. ”
The Queen ordered.
” Mia. I would need you to create the air pocket that you had created earlier for your husband. I would need you to lodge yourself inside that. Do you think you would be able to do that? ”
Mia first nodded. Then as soon as another jolt hit her back she shook her head.
The queen went beside her.
She placed her hand behind her.
” Mia, I know this is difficult but it’s for the sake of your baby. There is no more time for the midwives to intervene. I will need to turn your entire uterus upside down. If I do that while you are still under water, I will not be able to bring it back to normal. If you can create an Air Pocket for yourself, I will help you deliver your baby inside that. Then when we are done, the Waters will heal and bring your inside back to normal again. Do you understand what I am saying? ”
Mia nodded again with difficulty.
She drew every remaining strength that she had in her veins.
” Yeeeeeaaaaaaaaah”,
It look every breath she had to form the bubble around her.
” Great.
Mia keep going. ”
The queen urged her on with words of encouragement.
Jade and Ruby however looked a little uncomfortable. Nevertheless they watched with cautious.
Mia closed the bubble around her with much effort.
“That’s great.
Now everyone stand back. ”
The Queen pressed the water around the bubble like a compressing bag. She held Mia by it and flipped the entire content of her stomach upside down.
” AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! ”
Mia shrieked as the excruciating pain ripped her organs.
The water in her uterus gushed out like a river.
” Her water broke. Her water broke. Is the baby coming now? ”
Ruby exclaimed as she watched Mia almost faint.
” Just a little bit more, ”
Jade was also worried but she comforted, Ruby with her gesture.
” We need to wake her up, ”
The Queen ordered .
” Yes your Majesty, ”
The midwives sprinkled something over the bubble that pierced the layer and then got absorbed on to Mia’s skin.
Mia found herself back in those fields. Where she walked with Lin beside the wild streams. She saw a vision from what seemed like a distant past. Lin running after her, under the clear blue sky as she laughed and kept her lead.
“Catch me if you can, ” She teased him as he darted ahead and caught her by her hips. They rolled over together over the soft green grass.
” Careful, ” Lin whispered in her ears as he cushioned her into his arms.
” You are pregnant Mia, may be you should run around a little lesser. ” He pinched her nose and she nuzzled his face.
” What is I want to fly? ”
She teased him as she bit his ears.
” Then it’s all on me. ” Lin laughed as he picked her up with both arms and they sped over the changing landscape.
” Lin look, the ocean, ” Mia pointed towards the never ending waters as they crossed over that.
Lin looked a little frightened. But Mia jumped inside. Lin followed behind her.
Suddenly Mia found she was unable to breathe.
Her stomach started swelling as pain kicked behind her hips.
She wanted to call Lin but found no voice. Lin extended his arms towards her just then Mia saw the colour of the water around her, change to red blood.
Lin looked too. His face had joy mixed with fear.
He swam towards her and held her hands.
” Mia, breathe. Our boy is coming. Breathe Mia breathe. ”
He whispered again and again as he held her hands tight.
Mia grabbed his with her hands tighter.
” Mia, don’t drift away. Open your eyes. Breathe . Push. Mia your boy is almost there. Just a little more. Keep breathing. ”
Suddenly Lin’s voice became feminine. But it kept repeating the same things.
Mia opened her eye. She was upside down in the bubble. The Queen aiding her contractions as her boy kept pushing from her inside. Her aunts shouting words of encouragement. The midwives doing their best to relieve her ailing.
But there was no Lin around. She realised again that she was so far away from him that he didn’t even know that his son was due. Not due anymore, he was almost there. He didn’t hold her hand as her bones moved apart. As she bled. He wasn’t there cupping her face with his hands or whispering words of encouragement. It was all a mirage. A dream that came when she had lost consciousness for awhile.
” Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaah, ”
Mia screamed as her yell ended with a flush into liquid around the bubble and then followed with a wail.
” Weeeeeeeee, ”
Mia really stopped breathing as she heard her boy cry. Still tied with her through the umbilical cord. Floating in the liquid around her.