..the cry of a baby

"What're you having?" Elona finally whispered from her bed to the heavily pregnant Woman whose bed lay beside hers. It's just been a few hours since she was brought in yet there was something about her. Something! And she just couldn't shake off the feeling. The more she stared at her, the more she just wanted to hold a conversation with her. The fact that she loved to socialize was just a plus.

"Was told I'm having twins" The woman smiled before replying. Her hands immediately reached down to her protruding stomach as she rubbed it in a circular motion.

"Twin girls" she added before Elona could spit out her awe.

"Didn't wanna check mine. I wanted it to be a surprise" Elona replied quickly, not waiting to be asked with a full blown smile on her face. The woman's smiles were contagious, she noted.

"Carrie" The lady whose name she still didn't Know yet said.

"Sorry?" Elona asked, confused.

"The name's Carrie" the pretty woman repeated. Yeah! She hadn't failed to notice that about her. Even in pregnancy she was drop dead gorgeous. Now she only wondered just how much boys worshiped her back in her youthful bliss.

"You're beautiful" Elona suddenly said without even realizing it.

"Thank you. You don't look bad yourself" Carrie replied as a small blush spread over her face.

"Ehemmm!" Nurse Rachel who'd walked in a few minutes ago coughed announcing her presence. She hated to disturb their little chit chats but her shift was almost up and she just couldn't wait for Hannah to take over so she could get the hell out of here.

"I'm sorry to disturb you guys" she apologized.

"No issues"

"No offense taken" Carrie and Elona both replied.

"Just doing my Job" Rachel added but this time the irritation of being here disappeared from her face and a little smile replaced it. It's been quite a long time since she smiled. Rachel realized this while she was at the ladies washing off the day's sweat off her face but the tired looks wouldn't go.

Soon, she was on her way home after saying her Goodbyes to Nurse Hannah and a few other nurses she was a little acquainted with. She'd worked at St. Luke's Hospital for the most part of her life yet she still didn't know half of the staff by name. Maybe by faces but she definitely wasn't the socializing type.

As she waved down a taxi, she wondered why she was rushing back home. "Not like there's anyone at home waiting for me". She whispered to herself.

"What ya say?" The driver asked, turning down the loud blaring music from his sound system. She stared in surprise at his accent. He was very much white in complexion but sounded more like an African American.

"Weird!" She muttered.

"89 old crescent street" she replied. What was more weird was her life. Rachel thought as she settled into the cab. For some reasons, the driver left the music turned down, she noted.

She'd recognized it from one of the songs her neighbors loved to listen to

and didn't just wanna listen on their own. They always made sure to disturb her peace. Rachel smirked because that wasn't an issue to her.

On such days, she'd lock up every window, curtains and doors and squeeze herself into the innermost Part of her room to get away from such life. But right now, she just wished the driver would turn the music on.

"Ehm, excuse me?" She started.

"Any problem Ma'am?" The driver replied, looking at her from his mirror. Now he sounded more British.

"Never mind" she changed her mind.

"Weird" she muttered again

.

"...and a very stupid, stupid idea" suddenly thoughts of those two heavily pregnant women drifted back to her mind as she rested her head on the back seat. She found herself smiling again. Now she couldn't wait to get back to work tomorrow unlike how she dreaded it earlier.

She hadn't heard when the driver announced "we're here".

"Ya getting off here right ma'am?" He repeated in a rather agitated voice.

"Oops I'm sorry" Rachel apologized as she stumbled out of the taxi and handed him some dollar notes.

"Just...just keep the change" she stammered, turning around and placing a palm to her forehead.

"Weird Woman" The driver whispered to himself as he drove off into the dark night.

"Uhm...hey '' Carrie Started. "S..sorry" she added as an afterthought thinking she came off a bit rude.

Elona only smiled at the woman that seemed to capture her attention as she stirred on her bed to face her.

At first, she hated the fact that she had to share the room with another patient. If her husband was to hear about this, he would freak out.

But too bad he was plenty of miles away on a business trip and the news of her being admitted wouldn't get to him just yet until the end of today and he'd order for her transfer immediately to a private hospital back in Mandeville.

So why not just enjoy this little freedom while it lasts. She gave a wicked grin.

"Your name…." Carrie trailed off

"You never told me your name," she added for a better understanding.

"Oh! The name's Elona" Elona replied.

"Elona Hommes" she added for some reasons best known to her. She wondered if Carrie would even connect the dots that she was the wife of one of the richest men in Louisiana, Beckham Hommes.

She must have probably heard of Hotels and Hommes? Elona thought to herself. Or maybe not?

This was Goddamn Covington not Mandeville. Back in the city, every household knew that name. But Carrie only smiled.

Maybe it did ring a bell.

"What about you Carrie….wha..??" Elona waved her thoughts and suddenly got inquisitive. She gave her a head to toe sweep with her inquiring eyes. Carrie looked not so privileged but her aura was quite the opposite.

"Uhm... actually, I'm not married" Carried replied with a sad look in her eyes.

"Aww!" Elona whispered, suddenly feeling guilty.

"But the twins' gonna give you a tough time. You know that right?" Elona quickly added trying to lighten the air between them and they both laughed as Carrie nodded in agreement.

"Good Morning Mrs Elona and Mrs...I mean Miss Carrie" Rachel finally decided to announce her presence.

She'd heard way too much. She'd been eavesdropping again and now she was struggling not to tear up as she blinked so hard.

"Hello" Elona and Carrie both replied, still smiling.

"Hey!" Hannah suddenly whispered at the same time from the doorway.

"Could I see you for a minute please?" She added already pulling Rachel out of the room.

"Few minutes please" Rachel said to the two women while allowing herself to be dragged out by Hannah.

"If you came here to ask if I could help you take your shift then…" Rachel started pointing a finger at Hannah.

"Well! Yes, that's the reason. But Rachel…." Hannah said, cutting her off.

"You know I have a dad who's in the home for elderlies and my little brother to pick up from school. The Nanny's off on holidays and my elder sister is off on a date with her boyfriend and…" Hannah added talking really fast and in the most pleading of voices with puppy dog eyes.

"...then I'd gladly accept your shift" Rachel finished off her statement after deciding she'd heard enough.

"Really?" Hannah exclaimed looking up at her in surprise.

"Yeah, Really!" Rachel repeatedly rolled her eyes, already feeling bored.

"But that's so unlike you, you…" Hannah continued saying.

"Yeah I know all of that but just go" Rachel cut her off, turning her away and shooing her off with the back of her fingers.

"Must be those ladies" Hannah whispered to herself as she ran off before Rachel changed her mind.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Hannah jumped up, thumping her fist in the air joyously once she was out of ear shot. But Rachel could hear her.

She let out a little laugh but stopped abruptly and slapped herself too hard in the cheeks that it stung.

"You're smiling too much these days" she cautioned herself as she turned back.

"Sorry about that. How are you both feeling today?" She asked in a professional tone as she stepped back into their room.

"I feel.." Elona suddenly wincing in pain started.

"I feel sharp pains down here," she said, touching her lower abdomen.

"I was about to tell you. I feel the same way too" Carrie announced with her eyes closed. She looked more in pain.

"I think our babies are on the way," Elona said with a glint in her eyes, forgetting about her pain for a second.

"I think you should get the doctor!" Carrie shrieked.

"Doctor Ji Won!" Rachel suddenly shouted stumbling out of the room after realizing the situation. She raced towards the office of the Korean Doctor who'd just been transferred here a week ago.

Handling the two pregnant women was her first assignment but now that they were both in labor she'd need a lot of help from the resident Doctor.

Some minutes later, Doctor Won was in the CS section barking out orders to Rachel and a few other nurses. This wasn't Rachel's first time witnessing a surgery on a pregnant woman but this feeling, it felt very different.

She could feel the connection tugging at her like strings as she ran around obeying orders.

"The Scalpel please?" Won said, barely looking up.

"Quick!" She barked. Rachel rushed for the tiny tray beside her containing the surgical tools. Now wasn't the time to look for respect as Ji Won looks way younger than her. Maybe in her early twenties while she was in her late thirties. She felt a little twinge of jealousy but it lasted just for a second as she focused on the current situation.

Rachel wondered why Carrie hadn't given birth the way Elona did. After all, she was the most calm and quiet of them. Maybe this was the strangeness she saw in her. She could only pray and hope she made it out successfully.

She could hear the frequent "push" and the soft and encouraging words of the resident Doctor to Elona on the other side of the walls.

She decided Ji Won wasn't soft at all. Soon the cries of two pretties filled the room. The surgery was successful. Rachel looked around and there were smiles on their faces even on Ji Won's face.

Surprisingly, she smiled too when she stared at the peaceful sleeping face of Carrie. She exhaled deeply after realizing she'd been holding it in all this while.

"Put her to sleep, Quick" the Resident Doctor told one of the nurses.

"Take him to room 3 in the restricted Zone" he told another nurse while pointing to Elona's dead baby. Elona felt too weak to understand what was happening as the sharp prick of the needle sent her to a peaceful sleep.

The Doctor stepped out with a sad look and nurse Rachel came bumping into him.

"I'm sorry sir" she muttered. She felt antsy. She just couldn't wait to see Elona's baby but she didn't fail to notice the grim look on the Doctor's face.

As soon as she stepped into the room the two remaining nurses wore the same long face.

"What happened?" Rachel asked as her eyes flew to Elona but she seemed to be asleep. Then suddenly, it dawned on her.

Something was amiss.

The cry of a baby!

She searched frantically with her eyes and there, right before her eyes laid the answer to her question.

She dashed for it. "Him!" She noticed as she looked at the small bundle before her. Tears she hadn't cried for ages fell freely. She was sure right now she could cry an Ocean. She hadn't even cried this way when her parents died.

"Are you guys related?" Nurse Teres, who was put in charge of the baby, asked Rachel. And without waiting for a reply she headed for the door stopping only to relay the instructions she was given by the Doctor.

"You shouldn't wake her up" Nurse Teres added giving her one final confused look, she stepped out and the other nurse followed suit.

Rachel looked frantically from the dead baby to Elona.

"Elona I'm so sorry" she began to cry another river as she reached out to her.

"I probably shouldn't wake her up" Rachel cautioned herself after a while. Her eyes felt so heavy as she exited the room with the dead baby. She glanced one more time at Elona's peaceful face before shutting the door behind her.