Chapter 10

The joy and pain in having a child.....

Jade pov

" one,two, three,four,five,six,seven,eight" early in the morning by 7 am we were woken up for exercises. We were doing squats.

We were given a trainee.

" that's enough! Next...." I could've sworn he was talking but I couldn't hear exactly what he was saying.

Wait, what's with the ground? Why's it moving closer. I feel light-headed.

Thud!

" Prisoner 208?" I hear faintly but I can't respond. I feel so tired. Before I knew it everything blacked out.

"208? 208! " I hear again. This time I'm able to move. But...where am I? Okay? I seem to be on a soft surface. What's going on? I opened my eyes at the sound of the name given to me in prison.

I stood up in a rush,but I was immediately pulled back by my right hand. I was handcuffed to the bed. Am I in.......?

"Do you get dizzy often?" A woman in lab coat asked me. I guess I'm in clinic.

I looked at her confused.

" When was your last menstrual period?" She questions again.

"Huh?" I was so lost on what was happening.

"Pfft looks like she's not even aware of anything." The assumed doctor scoffed.

Um what was your first clue?

" Excuse me?" I question

" You're pregnant" she break the news to me fast.

" What?" I seem to have lost it.

" Do you have anyone to contact, maybe like the father of the child?" She asked me.

" No" I say in a whisper.

" I don't." I placed my free hand on my stomach,gave it a rub with a smile on my face remembering the night William and I shared.

Meanwhile.....

Ring!

The sound of Nathaniel's phone ringing could be heard, he rolls to the edge of the bed where he placed his phone.

"Yes!" He picked up aggressively. He didn't like to be woken up.

" What'd you say?"

" She's what?" Jesse on the other end answers again.

"Well,well, well. Jade Shipman is ... Pregnant?" Suddenly Nathan finds himself smiling.

"This is interesting" he cuts off the phone.

At the hospital where William was, waiting on Jade's father's treatment. Received a phone call from the prison clinic. He got the news that Jade is pregnant. Before he knew it he felt a sharp pain of guilt. He began to tear up. He was helpless, he couldn't help his girlfriend and now she's going to have his child in prison. What kind of life was this? he thought.

______________________

8½ months later

"You almost there" you could hear the scream of a woman in labor. The pain in bringing out a baby from the vagina is an unbearable pain,yet it has to be for women.

" Common,so close,I see something!" The doctor said. Jade screaming in pain,nurses hold her hands to try and calm her down.

" Push! you almost there" the doctor encouraged.

With one more deep breath which she took with a very loud scream the doctor caught the life that came out of her. Jade gasped at the relief she got and rested her head on the bed's pillow. Hearing the loud crying of the baby was like music to her ears. She just got a baby. Williams baby.

A boy.

"Here" after few minutes of the cleaning of the baby,the nurse wrapped him up and gave him to his mother. Jade held her son in her arms with great joy. Cradling him all so gently. Still crying loudly she pecks his forehead and that did it. His mother touch, kept him quiet. He opened his eyes slowly but not fully. Jade was pleased. He had his father's eyes she used her index finger to hold his tiny hand. The little bundle of joy opens his mouths then smiles involuntarily.

Jade giggled at her son. She adores him already.

He was her son,her shine,her hope. Her everything.

"Bright" she whispered. Out of breath from the delivery.

_________________

A year later.

Jade pov

" Yo bitch! Keep that thing quiet wouldya we trying to get some sleep!" The boss lady shouts.

Bright kept crying for no reason.

" I'm so sorry." I plead.

She threw a pillow at me.

" Don't be sorry just shut that thing up. Geez!!!" She covers her ear.

Bright cried even harder.

" That kid is loosing it." She aimed at my baby but Stella a friend I made while being here blocked it from coming my way.

" Bright shh" she collects him from my hand.

" Thank you Stella." I whisper to her.

" Twinkle, twinkle Little Bright,

Your the apple of my eyes

The stars are shining all for you

Wish I could pick the all to give

Your my little twinkling star

Keep on shining bright for me." I quietly sang. A song I made up for Bright from the original ' twinkle star '

He loves it when I sing it for him and sleeps right away. Doing that made him sleepy already.

" Here Jade " Stella handed him over when she noticed he was sleepy.

" Thanks." I cradled him till he fell asleep.

' I wish we were with your dad right now Bright he has never once held you. Just sees you from afar from the fields when they let us out for labour work. It a matter of time,I just have to be strong for you, alright. I love you.' I silently spoke to him while everyone else were asleep.

" Hey Bright. Here sweetie. Common. To mummy, yes." My baby had surprised me by walking,not just standing. He was walking on his own. I was so happy that when we were taken outside to do laundry I took him with me. Needed to know how fast he could be.

"That's it. My boy!" I grabbed him when he finally caught up to me. He's fast.

I bet his father would love to see him.

"Hey" another friend of mine, which was also a security guard came up to me.

" Stephanie did you see that?" I asked.

" He's running!" I said excited.

" Your father.....did you say Alzheimer? " She asked.

" Yes." I nodded.

" Anything from the child's father?" She asked.

I shook my head no to her.

"Nothing? That's one type of a father." She said.

" You must do a good job at your parole hearing next week. You know after 18 months, the kid has to go,right? Instead of sending him to an orphanage,it's your unique chance to leave with him."

" I know." I answered.

" Be careful that no problem arises until that time." She said.

"Yes " I smiled at her.

She looks at Bright and smiled at him before leaving.

Suddenly Bright started crying.

" Ohhhh what's so sad? What's with the crying?" I tried to cheer him up.

" Hey! Hit and run!" Boss lady called out from behind.

"What are you so happy about? Smiling silly everyday. Let us in on see of that fun would ya?" I turned and saw her with her gang.

" Coming into this Godforsaken place,and pumping out a real bastard. Don't you think you should raise him quietly, without bothering everyone here?" She bends and faces Bright.

" Baby..... because of you,this aunty has chronic fatigue. If tonight you cry like last time......boo!" She scares him making my Bright cry hard.

I pushed her to the ground.

" Please don't do that " I say trying to pet him.

" What is she doing? Crazy bitch" her girls picked her up.

" And what if I do that. You're gonna hit me?" She chuckles.

" Oh that's right" she laughs.

" You're up for parole, right? Here why don't you hit me. Go on." She shows her face.

I wanna hit her so bad. Tightening my knuckles to hold myself.

" Common hit me. Hit me." She frowns.

" You're a selfish bitch." She said.

" You bitch,you killed a person to get in here and only your child is precious? No matter how well you raise him,once he goes outside, he'll only be finger pointed for being related to a murderer. Isn't that right?" She smiles.

Bright crying harder. I tried to calm him down.

" Hey!" Stella came.

"Stop it ain't you being too much of an ass in front of the child?" She blurts out.

She pushes me from their sight.

" Common let's go. "

" Making a son wasn't enough,you had to make a friend too huh?! You must not mind living here for life." She yells.

__________

I hear screaming in the showers when I walked in boss lady was being beaten up by her.......girls?

" Guards! Anyone!" I scream for help.

They eye me and left her naked on the floor. I moved closer to her.

" Are you okay? " I asked her.

She was just panting.

" You must have a death wish " she said.

" Weren't they your friends?" I asked her. She stood up got a towel and cleaned the blood stain on her lips.

" Friends my ass" she spat out.

I tried to clean the blood for her but she just pushed me away.

"Don't try to act all nice." She pushes me out of the way and walks away.

...........

Stephanie told me they came to interview me for parole. I hope I make a good impression. I want to get Bright out as soon as possible.

" Do a good job okay?" Stella encouraged me.

"I will" I responded.

" I leave Bright in your care." I told her.

" Just say your sorry no matter what." She said.

I nodded.

" That's right, please just get out of prison and take that whiny baby with you." Boss lady said.

Stella and I gave ourselves a look. I only smile at her. And walked away.

I was called into the questioning room.

I walked in and was shocked when I saw William being part of the questionnaires. I was at the point of tears when.

"Miss please take a seat." I was told.

" Why are you crying" one of them asked me. They must have noticed.

"I'm sorry" I apologise.

"I'm sorry for the person who passed away,I'm sorry " I sniff.

"Miss Jade." William called me.

" How have you been for the past year?" He asked me.

I miss you so bad. I want out.

" I tried to repent my wrong deed. I thought that living her portion as well as mine was a way to pay back for the wrong I've done. " I avoid eye contact with him. The more I see him the more I feel like crying.

" You have a child." A female asked me.

" Yes" I responded.

" Do you have a place to send the child?" She asked.

" No. I have a father,but he's seriously ill." I responded.

" If you're paroled what do you plan to do? " William asked me again.

" I heard that the person who died because of me has a mother,I would like to visit her and ask for her forgiveness. My father also suffered a lot raising me by himself. When he was ill, I couldn't be near him even once. When I get out, I would like to spend time with my dad. " I maintained eye contact with Will.

" Oh right and the stars. Because we're only allowed out to the yard very briefly during the day,my child has never seen a star. I would like to show my child a star." I smile at Will.

He bows his head avoiding my face.

" I see. Miss Jade you may go. We'll get back to you." The female said.

I nodded and smiled cleaning the tears I didn't realize had dropped. I walked out. Looking at William once again but he didn't look back.

"208" you have a visitor. I was told when I got back.

William? He came back for me?

I walked in to the visitation room.

Only to see him. The crazy man. I was about walking away.

" It been a long time Miss hit and run. " He smirk.

" What is it?" I asked harshly.

" I guess you're living a nice life?" He continued.

"Your face got better. Stay comfortable while you're in there. Because when you come out it'll be uncomfortable. " He frowns.

I walked closer and sat down.

" Who do you think you are?! Why are you like this to me?! Why are you doing this to me?! To the extent of coming here!" I yell.

" Why do you think?" He said calmly.

" You're curious right?" He asked.

" Since you have a lot of time. Think about it slowly. Why I'm like this." He smirked and stood up, walked out of the room.

I was taken to the ironing room straight. Bright was in a stroller there. He was crying all so loud.

" There there " I tried petting him but he kept crying even more.

" 208 move aside" Stephanie came with some other guards.

What's happening?

" Inspect the baby " she gave the order.

I moved aside and they carried my baby laid him on a flat surface and removed his shirt. He kept crying hard. He was covered in marks and bruises. They were swollen.

" Take him" she ordered the guards.

Take who?

" What?! No my baby wasn't like this. This morning. I bathed him. No don't."

" I told you not to do anything while you're on parole. " Stephanie shakes her head at me.

No!

" No you're joking right?! Don't take him anywhere! He can't go anywhere. Where are you taking him?!" I tried fighting my way to hold my baby.

Two other guards grabbed me holding me tight. My struggling meant nothing. I heard my baby crying but I couldn't even comfort him. I heard his tears till it became faint. My Bright. Why!

" Please Stephanie you know I wouldn't do this! Why! Please he needs his mother right now!" Still struggling I was thrown to the floor and Stephanie left me there along with the other guards.

How far will this crazy guy go to torture me. Where is he taking my Bright!

What did I do to deserve all these.

All because I took the blame for someone I love? Why? Just why?...