Chapter Fifteen

After work, Dr. Reyes came home happy. She was glad she had someone to come to in the evening. She had been lonely for too long. She had passed by the supermarket and bought a huge card for Joy. The message in the card was specifically to remind her every time she woke up that she had a responsibility to fulfill.

"A child is a blessing no matter the circumstances it was conceived. Every life matters. Thank you for your courage mum." it read

Joy read the card over and over again and internalized it.

For the first time she realized she was really going to be a mother. She had not thought about it. Something in her went wild with excitement. She was going to be a mother. She would try to love her baby.

"It's a girl!" shouted Dr. Reyes.

She was extremely happy. It was the first time Joy had wanted to know the gender of her baby. She would be due soon and she needed to shop for her. Dr. Reyes was over the moon with excitement. She had always wanted to have her own daughter but she couldn't bear any.

They came home tired from shopping all day. Joy was extremely tired though she was told that it was good to exercise.

Apparently she was treated quite well in school. Vida and Ivy kept their distance from her as they too pretended to busy themselves in their work. It was their last semester and it was crucial to do their best. Joy had no worries. She had a reading culture and was always ready for anything to do with studies.

"Doctor!" Joy screamed one night.

Dr. Reyes rushed to her room to check on her. On opening the door, Joy was wincing in pain holding her tummy. A thick liquid slowly made its way down her thighs.

"Oh dear, your water just broke!" she exclaimed.

Joy looked at her in confusion.

"It's time!" was all she said before rushing to make a call.

Few minutes later Joy was wheeled into the labor room. She was still in terrible pain and as soon as she was transferred to the bed, she passed out.

She woke up hours later. Confused and feeling weird. She looked around and spotted Dr. Reyes.

"She is so pretty," the doctor said

"who is?" Joy asked.

"Your babygirl is very pretty." the doctor replied as a tear fell from her eyes.

She was holding the little girl in her arms and looking into her eyes lovingly. Joy finally realized what was happening. She stretched her hand to feel her tummy. She had given birth already! She tried to move but lay back due to the soreness between her legs.

Dr. Reyes finally turned to her.

"Would you like to hold her?" she asked.

Joy was afraid. She had never held a newborn before. So she shook her head. Dr. Reyes moved closer to her. Gave her a stern look.

"This baby needs her mother, she needs you to hold her. And besides she needs to be fed already. She has been crying while you were passed out. She is definitely hungry now," she told her.

A nurse helped her to sit up comfortably before Reyes urged her to just hold her baby for the first time. They needed to bond. She taught her to be gentle and loving to her daughter. Joy held her tiny baby for the first time. She was a little bit shaky but the look from the doctor reassured her. She peered into the bundle and saw an amazing work of art. Her heart skipped a beat. She was so beautiful. She seemed to stare back at her. Innocently. Joy's jaw broke into a blissful smile. This was her baby. Dr. Reyes was overjoyed to see her like that. She took a picture of the two using her phone. Joy didn't even hear the click. She was too preoccupied with her newborn.

"Hello there little one! For the first time am glad to finally have you. Am sorry I almost took your life once upon a time. But you survived coz you were meant to be. I didn't choose you, but am glad you chose me. I don't need to learn to love you, because I already do," she talked to her before a lone tear fell on the baby's forehead.

"Look now you are already making mummy cry. Tears of Joy. I will call you mirabelle because you survived through a miracle. And it will remind everyone that you are a fighter, just like your mother. I love you my mirror." she kissed her and the baby stretched as if reacting to her mother's words.

Words had spread in campus and soon troops of comrades came to visit her. They brought her congratulatory cards, gifts and fruits. Vida and Ivy were not left out. They were probably here to confirm whose baby it might be. They were so keen in looking at any features that would determine this but unfortunately for them, the baby looked like her mother.

The newest mother in town soon went back to school to sit for her exam. Stella had been asked to come look after the baby until the mother cleared her campus life.

When all was done, Joy was overjoyed to finally complete her studies. She became the envy of many. No one dared to ask about the father neither did Joy want to know anymore.