- 4.
leccica’s due date was in two days
<
Jessica’s due date was in two days.
I was due a few days after her, but the baby
came early.
She couldn’t wait, so she decided to have
hers at the same time.
She asked the doctor for the shot.
Somehow, it turned into we were supposed to
give birth together.
Normally, I’d say something nice to keep the
peace.
But I wasn’t going to let her pin anything on
me this time.
“Your baby’s your business. Talk to the
<
hospital. Has nothing to do with me.”
Jessica didn’t like that.
“What are you talking about? Aren’t you happy we’re giving birth together?”
I looked at her.
“It’s not my baby. Why would I be happy?”
Jessica was taken aback.
She saw me lying in bed and laughed.
“I heard the anesthesia makes you dumb.
You’re a perfect example. Your son will
probably be stupid!”
She could insult me, but she had to insult my
baby, too?
Seriously?
And who knew whose kid would be dumb?
I closed my eyes and pointed at the door.
“Leave me alone. I’m tired.”
Jessica slapped my hand.
I still had an IV in my arm. It hurt so bad I
winced.
“What’s wrong with you?”
I pulled my hand back and saw that she had
moved the IV.
My hand started swelling up.
I pressed the nurse button.
Jessica had never been yelled at by me.
“What’s wrong with you? You think this room
is yours? If you can stay, I can stay!”
I remembered that it was a double room.
This hospital wasn’t as crowded as St. Mary’s,
but it was the last room.
I’d have to wait for someone else to leave.
I couldn’t move.
I was trapped.
く
The nurse came in, fixed the IV, and told me
not to move my arm.
Mark was on his phone the whole time.
He always hated it when women fought.
But if I didn’t fight, who would protect me?
Even the nurse was annoyed.
“Sir, if the IV is done, please ring the bell. She
can’t move easily.
She looked at Jessica and told her, “The
doctor wants to see you in his office with
your family.‘
But Jessica had come by herself.
<
Her mother–in–law was behind her.
Her husband was still out of town.
Jessica sat down on her bed.
“You want me to get a C–section? I’m having
a natural birth!
“Tell the doctor when my mother–in–law gets
here, she can give me the shot to speed
things up. If you make me have a C–section,
I’ll sue you!”
The nurse was speechless, but she couldn’t
argue with Jessica.
She left.
The baby started crying. I called for Mark.
く
“Is he wet? Change his diaper. Then feed him
some formula.”
Mark put his phone down and got the diaper
and formula.
He rinsed the bottle with hot water.
He was gentle as he changed the baby.
Jessica watched for a while.
She scoffed.
“Can’t even afford a night nurse? Are you that
broke?”
Mark stopped what he was doing.
“Shut up!”
Jessica never did what she was told.
“Why should I? You’re poor. You’re
embarrassing yourself by spending all day
with a woman.”
Mark stared at her coldly.
“Jessica, don’t push me!”
Jessica rolled her eyes but didn’t say
anything.
She went back to playing with her phone.
I tried to stay awake.
But I fell asleep.
L
And I didn’t wake up until the baby started
crying.
