Chapter 51

MIRIAM'S POV
As I opened my eyes all I could see was darkness. The whole place was gloomy and I was becoming really scared.
I then felt as though my eyes were not properly open so I tried all I could to open my eyes so I could see properly but it was not working.
While still struggling to open my eyes I let out a loud scream but no one heard me so no one came to my rescue.
I became quiet and tried to remember how I got to this place of darkness but I could remember nothing in particular.
So I started running as fast as I could hoping I could see light but the farther I went, the darker the place became. All of a sudden I hit my leg against the stone and so I fell on the floor.
After trying to pick myself up I touched my stomach and I realise that my pregnancy was no longer there.
First I was happy that this burden was finally off my shoulder but on the other hand I really wanted to see the face of the baby I have been carrying for the past thirty one weeks.
I became so concerned about the welfare of the child but the only thing that came to my mind was how I would run the pack especially now that I was free. And this is the freedom I have craved for a long time so I comforted myself with the fact that I would not lose the pack even if I had lost the baby.
I still struggled to open my eyes because I felt my eyes were closed and that was why I could not see light.
And since I couldn't do that again I screamed and this time I did not just hear the echo of my scream come back to me, I started hearing other people's voices around me.
One of the voices I heard sounded like Daniel but I couldn't really place it as it wasn't that clear.
Other person's were also making irregular chatter but the one I heard so clearly and confirmed was Daniel's voice so I screamed out his name and although I could not see him I felt him wrap his hand around me.
"You don't have to be scared we are all here for you." I heard him say that but I still struggled to open my eyes and I could not also respond to him.
All of a sudden everybody became so quiet that I thought I was lost again.
I just hoped I wouldn't lose my mind in the process because this was actually becoming crazy.
After a long time of struggling to open my eyes without success I finally succeeded. I tried to look around me but I couldn't recognise where I was as my view was still very blurry.
As I turned to my left, I saw someone holding my hands up.
All I could see was another hand holding mine but I never saw who it was and with the other hand that was free, I tried to squeeze my eyes thinking that would help and just as I guessed it did.
I could see a bit clearer now and it became obvious that I was lying in the hospital. So I never asked where I was because I became conscious of the fact that I was in the hospital.
I tried to think about how I got here but I couldn't remember that so I allowed my head to rest because it was really banging.
And once again I closed my eyes and before I knew it I fell into a very deep sleep.
I think I slept for hours because by the time I woke up I felt more refreshed . All the headache I felt before was still there but this time it was subtle.
I placed my right hand on my forehead as I tried to sit up.
As soon as Daniel saw me trying to sit up he assisted me and I was able to sit properly on the hospital bed.
I couldn't find any words to express my feeling at that particular point. I just kept staring at him and staring everywhere.
It was then I remembered that I collapsed after the council of elders meeting. I knew I was tired even before the meeting started but I never thought that it would lead to the hospital.
"What did the doctor say?" I asked Daniel as soon as I was able to.
"He says you're going to be fine,'' he responded as he tucked my hair behind my ears and touched my cheeks.
Then I remembered what I saw earlier which I should call a dream so I bent down to look at my protruding tummy but to my surprise it was almost flat.
I screamed immediately and I guess Daniel knew why I was screaming so he tried to calm me down.
I kept shouting as loud as my voice could carry me while he continued to hold me and tried to pull me together.
It was then I realised how much I actually wanted the baby and that my attitude towards the baby all along was just a display of stupidity.
"Where is my baby Daniel?'' I asked him amidst the tears that had blinded me already.
He didn't say anything to me, he just kept patting my back and trying all that he could to console me but I refused to be consoled.
Ivy and Cherry walked in immediately and just the look on their faces told me that something is wrong with my baby.
That moment, I hated the three of them for not allowing me abort it in the first place. I mean all of this would not have happened, I should not be regretting the way I am if they had allowed me get the abortion when I wanted to.
They tried to come close to me but I pushed all of them away, including Daniel who was already holding me.
"I thought you never wanted this baby after all so why are you behaving like this?" Ivy asked me and I felt like smashing her head against the wall.
"I know I never wanted the baby in the first place but the truth is that I do now, so if there is any where the three of you had kept my baby you had better return it." I yelled at the three of them on top of my voice and I noticed that they felt the anger that I emitted.
"You have to calm down now, Miriam. All this shouting and screaming is going to do you no good so just be calm, and relax okay?" Cherry stated and I gave her a stern look.
Cherry and Ivy did all they could to get my mind off the child while Daniel sat there looking at the three of us arguing over a child I had made clear to everyone from the beginning that I never wanted.
When the trouble I was giving them was becoming too much the three of them told me that the baby was fine and that I will get to meet him soon.
I was really excited to hear that it was a boy, that will be my only memory of Christopher and as much as I know he might be exactly like him but I'll try as much as I can to make sure he doesn't exhibit most of the weak traits of Christopher.
It wasn't as if I hated Christopher but after everything I've been through with him and all that he did to me I don't think loving him will be an option either.
"I can see you're excited to hear that your baby is good." Daniel finally said and I saw the fake smile on his face. Daniel is not good at hiding his feelings and the expression on his face told me that something was wrong.
Well I decided to make that none of my business. All I was interested in was the welfare of the child I had carried for thirty one weeks.
"Is the child in an incubator? I should go see him now,'' I stated as I tried to jump out of the bed.
Daniel Cherry and Ivy held me back and actually told me that I cannot see the child at least not now.
"So when am I going to see him I asked with so much curiosity and they told me that the nurses would inform me when I would be able to see the child.
I wasn't comfortable with the response that they gave to me so I insisted on going immediately but instead of letting me go Cherry stepped out to call the doctor.
I did not know what she must have told the doctor before they walked into the room but as soon as he came in he injected me and I fell asleep again.