Chapter 7 - The Emergency Delivery
The delivery room was a blur of bright lights, shouting medical staff, and the rhythmic beep-beep-beep of emergency monitors.
"Her blood pressure is spiking!" the obstetrician, Dr. Aris, shouted to the nursing team. "The emotional stress of the past three days has triggered severe preeclampsia! We need to perform an emergency C-section right now!"
"Doctor... is my baby okay?" I begged through the oxygen mask, tears streaming down the sides of my face as they rushed my gurney down the tiled hallway.
"We’re going to get her out safely, Maya," Dr. Aris assured me, his voice steady despite the high tension. "Hold on!"
I was wheeled into the operating room. Within minutes, the spinal anesthesia took effect, numbing me from the chest down. I looked up at the cold steel ceiling lights, praying with every cell in my body.
Father, protect her. Don't let their evil destroy my child.
Outside the operating room doors, Marcus Vance and Arthur Pendelton stood guard in the hallway, refusing to leave until they heard the baby cry.
Twenty agonizing minutes passed.
Inside the surgical suite, Dr. Aris reached into the incision. "Suction! Clear the airway!"
A second later, a sharp, loud, beautiful cry filled the room.
WAAAAAH! WAAAAAH!
"She’s here!" Dr. Aris announced with a broad smile beneath his surgical mask. "A beautiful, healthy baby girl! Seven pounds, two ounces!"
The nurse wrapped my daughter in a warm pink blanket and laid her against my chest. I looked down at her tiny, perfect face, her soft tuft of dark hair, and her little fingers reaching up toward my cheek.
"Hello, my sweet girl," I sobbed happily, kissing her warm forehead. "You're safe now. Nobody will ever hurt us again."
May you like
I looked up at the nurse. "Her name is Clara. Clara Vance."
I gave her my father’s last name. The Rourke name was officially wiped out of our lives forever.
