Family

Family


Ike’s POV

"Don't worry, she will be fine," Helena assures as I follow them out of the hospital room unto the hallway, Helena clad in a white lab coat, a green Ankara knee-length dress peeking from beneath the professional material.

"Be good Ana," I say to the love of my life who isn't able to respond as a result of the pain she's undergoing.

She only nods, and I stare helplessly as her figure is being carted off, away from my sight, leaving me sad as there's no possible way I can help her at this moment.

Releasing a sigh, I twist the other way and walk to an empty roll of seats kept at the side of the wall close to the stairs. The metal chair making a noise as my butt touches it, my expression warranting pitying glimpses from the people stationed in the one opposite me.

I ignore them and bend my head downwards, gliding my fingers into the curls as I close my eyes. "Dear Lord, please let the process be successful. I beg you to make Ana and our unborn child safe and healthy after everything is over."

"Amen," I exhale and unfold my lids, straightening my posture to slant back, my knees covered in blood-stained ripped jeans which I haven't had the luxury to change pulled up due to my tall build and the short level of the chair. 

I take in deep breathes while I rest the back of my skull on the cold blue walls. My prantsy hands rubbing on each other in tension and boredom, causing my memory to shift back to early this morning.

No matter how hard I try, I can't help but recall the terror that ran through me in that precise moment when I saw Ana drop to the ground, blood smearing my clothes as well as hers in respect to our proximity.

That feeling is one I haven't experienced and one I hope to never experience for the second time. The instant the bullet left the gun, my heart left with it as I heed Ana and Emily's piercing screams before all hell broke loose.

I crouched to her unconscious body on the floor, shaking her profusely in panic, words not leaving my mouth the same way tears were leaving my ears as my breathing accelerated and blood pressure picked up.

What jeered me out of existence was the evidence of her water breaking as the wetness spread from between her legs to her dress and slowly soaking my trousers. 

I barely noticed the police come in to apprehend the culprit and the cause of all the commotion as she shouted profanities while shedding waterworks from her grey eyes.

Only able to gain control of my voice in that second, I screamed at Max who was standing in shock to go drive Joe's car as close as it can get to make it possible for me to carry her into it. 

Most of my fear faded as Oluchi came to me and assured me that Ana is alright as we waited for Max to do my bidding. 

She further went on to explain to me that the blood spread around wasn't Ana's but that of Emily's as Brian made use of the revolver I gave to him for safekeeping by shooting Emily on the arm before she could shoot Ana.

The blood from her arm spraying and hitting Ana and me because of our close distance, causing Ana to faint because of the shock and image of seeing someone get shot plus blood coming at her.

Still, that didn't help as much as she expected it to like the thought of Ana unconscious and possibly going into labor in that condition scared me to stupor.

Max rushed in afterward and helped me carry Ana into the car, he took on the task of driving, Oluchi whom I didn't sight following us, took the position in the front seat while Ana laid beside me in the back. The others were left to find their way and I haven't seen them since then which should be three hours ago.

Ana thankfully became conscious as Max was steering into the parking lot of the Federal Medical Center, and Oluchi jumped out immediately to alert the nurses and doctors of an emergency.

Once Max and Oluchi made sure we were alright and I told them I could take things from there, they drove back to meet the rest, thereby leaving me alone with her as we were both taken into the labor room, Ana insisting I should be present.

"Where is she?" A hand touches my shoulder, startling me back to the moment, and I swerve at the impact to see my mother's features encased in a brown long dress and leaning on crunches, a concerned look on her still beautiful face with my sisters at either side of her.

"She's been in the theater for a while now," I tell, my right arm going around her waist as she struggles to sit in the space left.

"Hello brother," Cecilia greets, standing in faded jeans and a black vest.

I bob my head in acknowledgment while Mirian offers me a comforting hug I didn't know I need until this moment as I exhale, letting my worries out in that one breathe, and shut my lids for a few seconds.

"Thank you," I let out, as she lets go of me to sit on the small table on my left after she places the flower vase with dusty artificial rose flowers in them on the floor. 

I note her dressing of a black crop top and a ripped boyfriend jean trouser, her slippers the same shade as Cecilia's brown leather one. I'm certain they would have argued about the coincidence of their uniformed attire, except if they were in a hurry or were too lazy to fight about it.

"Why a theater?" Mom asks after catching her breath.

"Her baby is in a transverse position, so she can't deliver through the normal procedure," I convey, fright gripping at my inside as I say, "I'm scared mom, what if something goes wrong?"

"Nothing will my dear," she consoles, bringing my forehead to her chest and skidding her palms along my backbone. 

"Why did you bring her here and not to the hospital she's registered with?" Mirian inquires. "I thought Helena is her gynecologist."

"She is," I affirm, staring at my palms. "It's a long story."

"We've got time my son, what happened?" Mom asks worriedly sighting the change in my mood. "We are your family, you can tell us anything."