Birth

The sound of a running mount is drowned out by the heavy downpour in the night streets. Its rider's heart beats hard and in rhythm with the quick steps of his ostrich horse. He can no longer feel the rain beating down on his face and back. He tightens his grip on the reins and guides Kuai through the streets of Omashu.

Hold on Yoi. Am coming!

Arriving at the hospital, he jumps off even before his mount can come to a complete stop. He rushes into the building. The few people within it stare at him and begin to wonder, what could make a man move around in this storm. A man with a medium height, whose soaked clothes did little to hide his well-built body. His wet and long black hair covered most of his facial features but it was clear that he had a trimmed beard, strong jaw and dark brown eyes. At the reception desk he tries to speak but can barely create a complete sentence in one breathe. He is directed to the delivery room's waiting area. He is the only one there. The silence is unnerving. He sits down to catch his breath but immediately gets on his feet when the doors burst open. His friend, Doctor Naz, stops in her tracks. She remains standing in the doorway with sleeves rolled up to her elbows and simply looks at him.

Something is wrong.

She approaches him and sits down, signalling for him to do the same. After a moment of silence, she spoke while looking at the ground.

"Congratulations." She didn't sound happy for him even though she wore a weak smile.

She looks tired and dehydrated. May be that's why.

She went on. "You have a healthy baby girl.".

"Thank you Naz, but please tell me. What went wrong." The doctor gripped his hands but continued to look down as tears begun to fall from her eyes.

"Feng….. am so sorry."

"Naz, out with it."

She lifted her head and looked as if she was going to say something but turned her face away.

"Naz ... Tell me."

"Its Yoi."

"What happened, Naz please tell me."

*Sniff* "Right after she named her daughter….. she….."

"She what?"

Suddenly, the doctor looked up at him and he saw a big smile on her face. "She said I should play a prank on you as punishment for being late."

"Huh!" Feng was confused.

Naz gave him three hard pats on his back as she laughed. "You should see the look on your face right now."

He caught her hand before she could hit him a fourth time. "Why on earth would you do that?!"

Naz leaned back in her seat. "Yoi said you were supposed to be back yesterday. What happened?"

"Things got completed."

"Don't they always?"

"Yeah," he said as he gave her a smile. "So when can I see my two girls?"

She got up, pushed one of the doors aside and said, "How about now?"

He smiled and followed her.

Walking through the corridor, his heart quickened. Joy flooding his veins and taking control of him that at one point he was walking ahead of the doctor.

"Someone is being impatient." Naz half spoke and half sung the sentence. Feng simply blushed as he slowed down. They walk to the end of the corridor and Naz knocks on the door to her right. A nurse opens it and gives Feng a big smile when she sees him.

"Is this the father?"

"Yes he is." They enter the room and, on the bed, Feng sees his wife and baby daughter sound asleep. He walks over to the bedside and looking at his little girl, he whispers a name.

"June."