Chapter 77

Zara's POV
We continued to talk about many things—about pregnancy, preparing for labor, and all the fun things that come with motherhood. Ismaya always tried to motivate me, and it helped remind me how meaningful this experience was. “Zara, you’re going to be an amazing mom. You have all the strength and love to raise this baby well,” she said, making me feel appreciated.
“Thank you, Ismaya. Your support means a lot. Sometimes I feel doubtful and anxious, but hearing your words makes me feel more confident,” I said, feeling gratitude welling up inside me.
As a loyal friend, Ismaya was there for me not only in good times but also in difficult ones. “No matter what happens, we will always be there for each other. When the time comes to give birth, I will accompany you if you want,” she offered sincerely.
I felt very touched. “Of course, I would love for you to be there. With the support of family and friends like you, I feel more prepared to face all of this,” I said, remembering how much this support meant.
Our conversation continued to flow, and the rest of the day was filled with laughter and joy. One thing was for sure: this journey would not be my own. With the love, support, and friendship of Ismaya and the loved ones around me, I felt ready to explore every step of this journey.
In the middle of the silent night, I woke up with a sharp pain in my stomach. At first, I tried to stay calm, thinking that it was probably just a cramp, but the pain got worse. I felt restless and could not rest. With all my strength, I tried to get up and walk down the hall to my mother’s room.
“Mom… Mom!” I called out softly as I reached the door of their room. My mother and father woke up to the sound of my voice, and when they saw my face, they immediately panicked.
“What’s wrong, Zara? What’s wrong?” asked my mother, standing up immediately and approaching me.
“I—I have a stomachache,” I said, my voice shaking. The pain was excruciating and intense, making it difficult for me to speak. “I think… I’m going to give birth.”
Without wasting any time, my mother immediately asked my father to prepare the car. “Zara, we’re taking you to the hospital now!” she said firmly but softly, trying to calm me down.
On the way to the hospital, the pain intensified. Every movement of the car made me feel more uncomfortable, and I couldn’t hold back the small scream that escaped my lips. “Mom… I… can’t take it,” I complained, trying to distract myself from the increasingly intense pain.
The atmosphere in the car felt very tense. My father drove fast, but still carefully. My mother was beside me, patting my back gently, trying to give me support. “We’ll be there soon, honey. Take a deep breath, stay focused,” Mom said, trying to calm me down.
The journey that shouldn’t have been long felt like an eternity in this agony. It felt like every second passed so slowly. I tried to stay calm and listen to Mom’s voice, but the pain made it hard to think straight.
Finally, we arrived at the hospital, and Dad immediately parked the car in front of the emergency door. As soon as the car stopped, Mom and Dad quickly took me out. Mom told me to hold on to her tightly, and at that moment I felt a wave of pain coming back.
Inside the hospital, the nurses and doctors immediately greeted us. “We are ready to help, please come with us,” said one of the nurses, directing us to the examination room.
As we walked towards the room, I continued to feel excruciating pain. Mom remained beside me, providing me with meaningful support, while Dad went to finish the paperwork.
Once inside the room, the doctor prepared all the equipment and helped prepare for the birthing process. With all my will, I tried to get through the disturbing pain. “Zara, you are strong. Focus on your breathing, we will get through this together,” Mom comforted me.
Each push of pain grew stronger, stabbing my body and making it difficult to breathe. Remembering the special moment that was coming, I tried hard to stay strong. However, as the birthing process progressed, the excruciating pain made me feel very tired, and disappointment began to erode my spirit.
“Zara, you are so close! Take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Focus on your breathing,” the doctor’s voice was clear, giving me the necessary guidance to help me through this difficult phase.
I almost gave up. The pain seemed never-ending, and every time I wanted to give up, my mother’s loving and supportive face came to my mind. She was beside me, embracing me and encouraging me, “You can do it, honey! You’re here. Your baby wants to meet you so much.”
I focused all my energy on following the doctor’s instructions. “Okay, now it’s time to push hard, Zara. Remember, after this, you will be able to see and hold your baby,” the doctor encouraged me enthusiastically.
I bit my lip and did as I was told. With each push, I felt as if there was a light at the end of the tunnel. I fought not only against the pain but also against the despair that was coming over me.
“Come on, one more time, push! Do your best!” the doctor said enthusiastically, giving me his strong encouragement.
The pain became more intense, but as I did it with all my might, I signaled the hope in my heart. “For my child… for my child…,” I cried out in my heart, using all the strength I had left.
Finally, after what felt like an exhausting few moments, the soft cry of a baby filled the room. My whole body shook at the sound, and tears of joy streamed down my face.