Jade

There she was. Jade.

***

Jade's mom delivered her to life as she was six months old in momma's womb. She was not beautiful, she was barely like a human baby. She looked like an alien on the TV with a giant head and sharp chin, her eyeballs were covered with bare eyelids, and you could see the convex. Her skin was transparent, you could see her veins. Her limbs had no flesh, only the transparent skin as a wrapper, you could see every bulge of her joints. Her fingers were so thin, like sticks. Her chest rose and fell slowly with every weak heartbeat. 

It was not any sight that Carly nor Joshua have ever imagined. Ever. To meet their baby for the first time that way. But the doctor said she was alive. They could not feel anything more but gratitude. Carly was sent to the nursing room after the birth while Jade needed to be in the incubator because she was too young and too tiny. Carly easily fell asleep after all of the draining circumstances delivering Jade.

The next couple of days, people came and went, visiting Carly. Her parents, Joshua's parents, their colleagues, their friends and a few of their neighbours. But Carly didn't talk too much to any of them, Joshua was the one who mostly attended because most of the time the guests visiting, Carly was fast asleep. The doctor demanded her full rest for quick recovery, she wasn't even allowed to see her baby after the only moment she got, which was around three hours after the labouring. That stressed Carly away somehow, she'd been anxious about Jade's conditions, comprehending Jade's vulnerable age.

***

Carly eventually was allowed to go home. Everyone had agreed that Carly will be staying at her parents' house for the time being because she wasn't well. Both physically and mentally unstable and fragile. Everyone was very quiet in the car on their journey to Carly's parents' house. Carly herself was not very much in the mood of talking because of everything she'd been having. She was still feeling vulnerable although she had regained most of her strength. Her mother only took glances at her every once in a while and caressed her hand, hoping she could encourage her.

"Don't worry, Carly, you will be alright soon, don't be too overthink for now. And you'll feel at least less lonely, as you will be staying with us these days."

"Yes, mom," Carly only nodded and answered in a very low and weak voice. 

However, going home without her baby felt so wrong, too much wrong, "Jade is still fighting for her life, alone now," her mind wandered, leaving her to shed a tear.

Carly's mother helped her to get out of the car and entered the house. Carly smiled as she got inside, in sadness somehow, but the smell of home gave her some ease. Her father walked behind them and went to his bedroom to have some rest, saying nothing to anyone. Carly knew he was also worried about her, but her father was always a very quiet person, almost forever. He was a loving and caring man, but he doesn't talk much, he shows his love by taking care his family only through his actions.

Joshua didn't come in right away, it seemed like he was answering a phone call outside the house. Carly turned to see outside when she heard that Joshua was talking louder as if calling or leading someone to find the house. A car stopped next to Joshua's and Carly saw Joshua's parents come out, then Joshua's sister. Carly furrowed her eyebrows, wondering why was everyone there at the same time. Carly's coming home from the hospital wasn't something so huge that needed a celebration.

Joshua came in, and his family followed behind him. The atmosphere was suffocating, Joshua's mother lowered her face when she walked past Carly, very unusual for that bold lady.  Everyone walked toward the living room, Joshua and Carly were the last on the line. Carly's heart skipped a beat, she suddenly felt nausea from the weird atmosphere, "what's going on?" she thought.

Joshua led and helped her to sit on a chair, and seated himself on the armrest next to Carly, but no one was saying anything. Her mom sat across her seat, wiping the corner of her eye. Joshua's sister kept on looking outside, avoiding Carly's gaze, clearing her throat a few times. His father walked away torching his cigarette to ease his nervousness. 

Carly asked with a low and shaky voice, feeling that there was something wrong, "What is happening?" 

She stared at them again one by one, looking for an answer. Her heart thumped louder and she raised her voice, "What. Is. Going. On. In here?" 

Joshua stepped down from sitting on the arm of the couch to the floor, kneeling before his wife and holding her hands on her lap, couldn't even look up to see her face and kept on sighing.

"Carly, I…I'm, very sorry, Carly, I couldn't tell you. I didn't know how to say it. But our baby… Jade…" 

Joshua lowered his head, put it on her lap and sobbed. 

Her eyes widened, her throat choked, she couldn't say a word, she could barely breathe. She screamed to the air crying as loud as she could, with the least of her strength and fell into Joshua's arms before her, whimpering in misery.

***

Carly's father had been staying in the bedroom, avoiding everyone, listening from afar, his beloved daughter hurt and cried and screamed in the most pain they could ever imagine. He stayed there alone, crying in grief unwilling to witness his daughter's sorrow.