4
85
“Lock her in the bathroom.”
“”
“Get two guys to clean up the pee on the
carpet, it’s disgusting.”
Two guys who were lower on the totem pole
pulled me up, dragging me into one of the
bathrooms.
I screamed, begging anyone to help me.
“Call 911, please, call 911…”
The door closed, muffling my cries.
It felt like a bunch of needles were being stuck
into my body, I remembered what the
pregnancy class had said.
The contractions were coming faster and
faster, I started taking slow breaths, trying to
deliver this baby by myself.
You got this Shawna.
My baby needs you.
Tears and sweat mixed together, I’d been
screaming so much my voice was raw.
Below my stomach, I felt like I was being ripped
apart, the air was full of the smell of blood.
I didn’t know how much time had gone by, but
the situation was getting worse.
It hurts so much… the baby wouldn’t come out.
I felt dizzy and afraid, I bit my lip and touched the blood under me.
I wrote on the frosted bathroom door, using my
fingers.
“SOS”
I made a few bloody handprints on the door.
The guy who came out of the stall next to me jumped and yelled.
“Mark, this is serious.”
“The bathroom door is covered in blood, she’s
in labor!”
Hearing that someone had noticed, my hope surged.
Hold on, baby.
Mark, wasted, just snickered.
“Blood? She must have smuggled in a bottle of
wine. She’s only seven months, there is no way. She’s just putting on a show.”
The guy looked terrified, trying to reason with
him.
“Dude, just open the door and take a look. Just in case, you know?”
Mark didn’t care. Lily, in his arms, cooed.
“She’s always done this, she tried to get me
fired last time! You don’t know her, she’s just pissed she can’t spend the holiday with you!” The guy didn’t push it, and my hope died down again.
The cramps made me sit up straight.
No, I can’t give up.
Baby, mom will save you.
I took off my coat, dipped my fingers in blood,
and wrote a message.
I managed to climb on top of the toilet, pushing
the vent window and tried to throw my coat down.
But the pain was too much, and my coat got stuck.
I managed to rip my coat free and threw it.
Right then, my feet slipped, and I fell backward.
“Wham” I heard the sound of my head against
the floor.
<
Everything went black, I thought I heard Mark
scream.
“Shawna…”
