The sirens were the only thing that could be heard, everything moving slower than usual. History seemed to be repeating itself. Gugu’s head felt foggy but yet so clear. The rain fell heavily, as if the sky was crying with her.
“Please save my child, please!” Gugu cried, as the paramedics lifted her into the ambulance.
“Ma’am, try to calm down and tell us exactly what happened,” one of the paramedics said as he fixed the stretcher into place and sat down next to her. Sam got in next to him.
“I just started feeling sharp pains in my stomach and then the bleeding started, just like last time!” Gugu gasped.
The paramedic nodded. “Okay, ma’am, I really need you to calm down and breathe deeply. We will get you to the hospital soon. How far along are you?”
“Seven months. Please, this time just save my baby, please,” she pleaded, her voice fading to a whimper as she closed her eyes.
“Ma’am, please don’t close your eyes, try to stay awake,” the paramedic begged, to no avail.
“My love please don’t close your eyes,” Sam begged, tears streaming down his face.
“Emergency, emergency female 32 years old, seven months pregnant, bleeding heavily. She slipped right into a coma on the road …” Sam heard someone say when they arrived at the hospital, but the words came from afar.
Sam sat in the waiting room, destroyed, blaming himself for all the pain Gugu might be going through.
As if from a distance, Sam heard the doctor speaking to him. “Sir, I am so sorry for your loss. We tried to at least save your wife, but unfortunately we were too late …”
Sam stared ahead of him, destroyed. Gugu had not made it to the operating theatre alive. It was as if she had simply given up hope to fight.
“Beep, beep, beep,” went the hospital machines that were supposed to save lives. They had been no help to Gugu.
“ … but we were able to save your son. He is in good health and we believe his chances for survival are good.”
*****
A month later, Sam walked out of the hospital with his son in his arms, Musa by his side, carrying the baby’s things. Little Cayden had his mother’s dimples and eyes. Sam looked down at him with love in his eyes. “Your mother would have been so proud of you, my little fighter.”
***
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