Chapter Five

"Go, one more push... I can already see the baby's head; one last push in the count of  three. One, two, three push!"

Gail gave her all in that final push, and the next thing we know, the baby's cries fill the entire room.

"Ungahhh!"

"You did it, Gail!" I whisper, tears streaming down on my cheeks.

"I'm so proud of you, Gail... good job," my lips tremble in relief and joy.

Eugene suddenly entered the room, his gaze instantly fixed on the small body in front of him.

"Congratulations! It's a healthy Baby Boy!"  the doctor announced.

I left Gail for a moment to approach Eugene, who hadn't taken his gaze away from the baby that the nurses were cleaning.

"Hey," I say, trying to get his attention.

"Hmm?" he replied, my brow furrowed as I heard his raspy voice, and I noticed his teary eyes when I looked at him.

I wiped my own tears away. I, too, am relieved to finally meet a healthy and safe baby.

I also look at the baby and observe how they clean him.

Looking at the little angel in front of me, I am reminded of Gail's pain and hardship in order to deliver him safely and healthy. I realize now that no one can match or replace all that mothers sacrifice just to give their child a chance to live in this world.

I looked up at Eugene once more.

"Gail worked so hard to give birth to the baby safely, putting her own life on the line to give birth to your child... you should respect her for the rest of your life, Eugene, and you should thank her from the bottom of your heart."

Eugene locked his gaze on me for a long moment before nodding softly.

"I know, I know..." his eyes moved to where Gail was, and my heart painfully pounded as I saw Eugene's tears dripping as he looked at Gail.

"D-Doc!" Gail cried, sending us all into a state of panic.

I dashed over to Gail and grabbed her hand tightly, wondering why she was screaming in pain again. As her condition worsened, I became extremely worried.

"There's another one, that's why I told you to get an ultrasound."

We're all in awe as we watch Gail give birth to one more time. How painful is it to have another baby less than a minute after having one?

"Another healthy baby boy!" exclaimed by the doctor once more.

When I scanned the room after the doctor announced the baby's gender, I didn't find Eugene.

What happened to him? Where did he go?

"We'll take the twins to the other room for more monitoring," the doctor said, I was the one who nodded because Gail was now unconscious.

Eugene texted me that he was in the hospital nursery room watching over the twins.

When everyone had left after ensuring Gail's safety, I immediately sat down on the sofa to rest and calm myself.

"L-laura?" I turned to face Gail's bed when I heard her call my name.

"You need to rest... sleep some more" I stood up quickly and approached her bed.

His lips were still pale, and traces of tiredness were still visible all over his face.

"I will now hand them over to you, Laura. My job is now finished, and I can finally leave in peace."

After hearing that, my brow furrowed and annoyance engulfed my head.

"Why do you have to leave them, Gail? Eugene loves you, and now that you have a child, can't you just stay by their side and live as a whole family?"

When I didn't get a response from her, I inhaled in frustration.

Only now did I realize I was a masochist; I could feel the pain in my chest when I

 thought

of their family would be reunited, that they would be there for their children together.

I'm such a bad person for thinking and hoping that it's better it that won't happen,  they already have children who need them both I should not think like this.

How could I possibly take Gail's place? I'm nothing in compared to her. Gail is the only person who can be the mother because she gave birth to them while risking her life.

I'm just a shameful stand-in with no experience and understanding about family afterall.

"Thank you for holding my hand earlier," she said softly before grabbing my hand firmly.

"I'm so grateful to know and witness how kind and you are, Laura." I'm overjoyed because you're standing next to Eugene and my kids...."

I sigh again after hearing that, she just smiles painfully when she sees that.

"If I have a choice, I don't want to abandon them," her voice trembled as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Gail, please don't cry so much because you're still recovering from giving birth, shhh- I'm sorry, Please calm down." I couldn't help but caress her hand, she smiled at me as tears streamed down his cheeks.

"I have no choice; God wants to take me early." My chest throbbed painfully, and my eyes widened as I heard what she said.

"I love him... I love being by his side; I am the happiest when I am laughing with him; he is a very good person, such a loving man, a little childish at times haha. Then I found out I was sick, and instead of being concerned about my illness, I became angry with myself.

I wish I had realized sooner that my life was destined to end so soon. Because if I'd known sooner, I wouldn't have let Eugene know me, and I wouldn't have let him love me... I don't want to hurt him. ”

I just let her say whatever was on her mind, and now that I can hear her stories, I can really feel how kind and strong their bond is. She was more concerned about Eugene's reaction to her illness more than with her own death.

"How come you didn't tell him? He will understand you. He was even more hurt when you abruptly left. " I desperately said but all she did was shake her head and smile sadly.

"I just don't want him to remember the pain when someone he cherishes dies. Since his parents' death, he has also lost himself for several years and can't accept what happened. It's better for him to be angry with me than for him to be miserable for losing me. urgh!"

When she suddenly coughs, I freak out and

get up to get her a glass of water. She said something that made me cry as I poured water into the glass.