Chapter 77

A nurse raised her head, "The dilations are becoming slower!"

"Shit!" One of the doctors exclaimed, "Talk to her, talk to your wife!" He directed at me as he walked in hurried steps to join the nurses. He started some movements with his hands.

Panic seized me. I clutched her hand tighter, "Lani! Baby, shit! You have to try harder for me, baby! What about our babies? We made plans, remember? We made lots of plans?"

"I'm so tired...." She whimpered, a shudder raking her body. It seems as if she wants to go to sleep.

"Hey, baby...!" I shook her awake. Tears burned my eyes, "What about me? Lani, what about me?"

She winced in pain, then smiled a bit. "I know my Zavier....you...are...a strong man. You can take care of our kids...I don't think...."

"Lani! You know I don't know the first thing about raising a child? Do you want me to raise them the way Pops raised me?"

She frowned a bit and shook her head.

"I'm glad, because that's the only way I know, baby." I lowered my voice to her ears so that only her will hear, "I'll raise our kid to be killers, and they'll kill a lot of innocent people. They won't even know how to pray."

"No, no....but...that w-won't do....!" She cried out again.

"Then, you'd better be there with me to stop it from happening, baby." I spared the nurses a glance and they raised their hands in a gesture of encouragement. One of them mouthed that I should keep on engaging her.

I faced Lani again, running my hands through her hair. She started sobbing in pain, her hand squeezing mine. "It hurts so bad...I want to push..."

I looked at the doctor for direction and she shook his head adamantly. She can't, he mouthed.

I faced Lani again, kissing her sweaty forehead, "Not now, baby. Not now..."

"I hurt so bad..." She sobbed again.

"I know, baby. I know, but you've imagined our babies right?" I groaned, my heart heavy with the amount of pain she's feeling.

Her eyes lit up through the pain. "Oh, yes....beautiful boys or beautiful girls....they're going to look like you....or like me." She blinked slowly, tears falling, "they'll be so perfect."

"Of course, they'll be. I know you really want to see them. Watch them grow...teach them how to pray...take them to school...we'll share responsibilites...sleep with them some nights when they're scared..." I carried on and on and she listened attentively, her eyes glowing.

"Oh, Zavier. They'll love us so much...." She whispered.

"Of course, they will. We'll be great parents." I whispered. Her hand contracted in mine and her small body jerked in pain again.

"Now! Now!" The doctor signalled.

"You can push now, Lani. You can do it...!" I urged quickly.

She squeezed the eyes tight and screamed as if in excruciating pain.

A tear dropped from my eyes at the painful sight.

The cry of a baby filled the air following her scream. I froze as the little one was brought out covered in blood. The doctors were smiling as they raised the baby...

"It's a girl." She announced excitedly, handing the baby over the another nurse on standby who took the baby away.

A radiant but tired smile spread over Lani's face. The doctor mouthed that I should continue talking to her.

"Did you see our baby, honey?" I asked, tears falling from my eyes. Emotions clouding me.

She nodded exhaustedly, "She's so beautiful...so perfect." Her voice was laced with pain.

"She is, darling. Just like her mother. You're doing good baby, you're doing so good."

"Zavier....." She called so softly, I can barely hear her.

"Yes, baby?" I rubbed her burning sweaty head. She's running a high fever.

"Pray for me...here...right now." She whispered.

I hesitated guiltily, I leaned in and whispered so only her will hear it. "Baby...my hands are stained with blood. Even today, I killed that bastard that attacked you....my hands are stained, Lani."

She smiled a little, blinking slowly. "Let...God...be...the...judge...of...that.... Please pray....for me...."

And so, I made the sigh of the cross, and made for her too. I started praying, getting her to respond to my words of prayer too. I prayed and I made promises to God.

Let Lani and the kids come out of this alive, and I'll never miss any mass on Sundays. I'll pray on my own everyday and I'll read the bible always. I'll never shed an innocent blood and I'll try my best to be the best father and husband.

I made these vows to God. I don't made promises because my words I treat them as gold. As I made those promises, I know I'll die keeping them.

"Now! Now, Lani!" The doctor urged immediately.

"I can't, I can't.....!" She cried.

"Lani, you can!" I countered, "come on, baby!"

She closed her eyes tight and screamed with all her might. Her hand squeezed mine so much, her body convulsed with the force of her push.

Another cry of baby rose in the air, followed by a nurse raising the little bundle in the air.

Suddenly, there was jubilation in the room. The doctors were happy and the nurses were clapping. They shared in our joy. Tears was opening falling from my eyes in joy.

I hugged my wife lovingly, "You're the strongest woman I've ever known, baby. I love you so much. Thank you so much, Lani."

"I love you." I barely heard the almost inaudible whisper of her voice.

"God, I love you too, baby. So so much." I groaned. Tears of joy and happiness was flowing freely down my eyes.

Suddenly, her body went lax in my arms.

I know the exact moment, Lani stopped breathing.