Falling for Real

The Consequence of Choices II

"The first baby is crowning," the doctor said briskly, putting on her gloves and preparing the equipment. "You're going to have to push."

Lena's breath hitched, her body trembling with exhaustion and pain, but the doctor's words left no room for hesitation. She could feel it now, the intense, burning pressure between her legs as the baby's head began to emerge. It felt like her body was being stretched to its absolute limit, the skin tight and on fire, as the baby's head slowly inched forward.

The sensation was overwhelming, a mix of unbearable pressure and searing pain, commonly referred to as the "ring of fire" as the baby's head began to crown. Lena gasped, her legs shaking uncontrollably as the doctor positioned herself to assist with the delivery. She could feel the baby's head, round and firm, pushing against her, just on the verge of emerging.

"You're almost there," the doctor said in a matter-of-fact tone. "One more strong push."

Lena gritted her teeth, every ounce of energy she had left focusing on that one final effort. She bore down with all the strength she could muster, feeling the baby's head slipping further through, the tight pressure growing even more intense. And then, with a final surge, the baby's head fully emerged, the sensation both a relief and a shock as her body adjusted to the new space the baby had made.

"The baby's head is out," the doctor said, her tone as clinical as ever.

"That's it, keep going," the gynaecologist urged, her voice a steady anchor in the chaos. "You're doing well. Just a few more pushes."

Minutes dragged on, each one stretching into what felt like an eternity. Lena's entire body was soaked in sweat, her breath coming in short, desperate bursts as she continued to push. The gynaecologist's voice became a distant hum as Lena's mind drifted between the sheer agony of labour and the overwhelming despair that gripped her heart. How had her life come to this? How had she been reduced to nothing more than a vessel, a tool to bring someone else's children into the world?

Finally, after what felt like hours of relentless pain, Lena let out one last, agonised scream, pushing with every bit of strength she could muster. The tearing sensation intensified, and then, in an instant, the pressure released.

"The baby's out," the gynaecologist announced, her voice cool and clinical. Lena could hear the faint cry of the newborn, a fragile sound that cut through the thick silence of the room.

Without so much as a word of acknowledgement, the gynaecologist passed the baby to a nurse, who swiftly carried the tiny bundle away, out of Lena's sight. Lena blinked through the tears and exhaustion, her mind struggling to process what had just happened. The sound of the baby's faint cry faded into the background, and before she could fully register the weight of the moment, the birth of her first child, another intense wave of contractions slammed into her.

Her body tensed involuntarily, and she gasped, her hand gripping the bedsheet as another brutal contraction surged through her. The pain was just as excruciating as it had been with the first baby, maybe even worse this time, as the second child inched its way slowly downward, the pressure almost unbearable. Every breath felt like fire in her lungs, and the relentless pain was a cruel reminder that her ordeal was far from over.

"You need to focus, Lena," the gynaecologist said coldly, adjusting her gloves as she prepared for the delivery. "The second baby is coming, and it's time to push again."

Lena whimpered, her body trembling violently from sheer exhaustion. She felt utterly drained, physically and emotionally shattered. She hadn't even had a chance to see or hold her first baby, her own flesh and blood, now whisked away without so much as a moment of acknowledgement. And yet, here she was, her body demanding she go through the torment all over again, still alone in this sterile, emotionless room.

"I don't know if I can do it," Lena whispered, her voice weak and barely audible through the shallow gasps that escaped her. Her body was on the verge of collapsing, and the idea of pushing again seemed impossible.

"You don't have a choice," the gynaecologist replied sternly, her voice lacking any trace of empathy. "You need to push. The second baby won't wait."

Lena sobbed as the next wave of pain crashed through her. Tears streamed down her face, the sheer agony of it overwhelming her. Her body felt broken, but it moved on instinct. The urge to push was undeniable, and with a strangled cry, Lena bore down, forcing herself to push with whatever strength she had left.

The process was agonisingly slow. The burning sensation returned, even more intense than before, as her body stretched to its limit again. The baby moved forward inch by inch, and the sensation of extreme pain and burning made Lena feel as though she was being torn apart from within.

"That's it, keep pushing," the gynaecologist instructed, her voice as detached as ever. "You're almost there."

But for Lena, each second felt like an eternity. She clenched her fists, gripping the sheets so tightly that her knuckles turned white, her entire body shaking with the effort. She had no more energy, no more fight left in her, yet somehow her body continued to obey the primal urge to bring this baby into the world.

"Push again, Lena," the gynaecologist commanded. "You're close."

With a final scream that tore from deep within her, Lena pushed one last time. The pressure and pain reached a peak, a burning so intense it felt like her body was being ripped apart. She gasped as she felt the second baby's head finally crown, the sensation agonising and overwhelming, just as it had been with the first. Her vision blurred from the tears and exhaustion, her entire body trembling as she tried to catch her breath.

"That's it," the gynaecologist said, her tone emotionless as ever. "The baby's head is out."

Lena sobbed, her body barely able to keep up with what was happening. She could feel the baby sliding further, inch by agonising inch, and with one final push, the rest of the baby's tiny body slipped free. The burning pain began to fade slightly, replaced by an overwhelming exhaustion that nearly sent her spiralling into unconsciousness.

"It's done," the gynaecologist said briskly, moving quickly to wipe the newborn clean. The cries of the second baby filled the room, but the sound barely registered in Lena's ears. She lay back against the bed, her body shaking uncontrollably from the sheer effort it had taken to bring her children into the world.

The gynaecologist wrapped the second baby in a blanket and, just as quickly as the first, passed the newborn off to a waiting nurse. Lena blinked, her vision swimming, barely able to lift her head to see her child.

"Please..." she whispered, her voice hoarse and weak. "Let me... let me see them."

The gynaecologist didn't respond, instead cleaning up the space with the same detached efficiency she had displayed throughout the birth. Lena was left staring up at the ceiling, her chest heaving as she fought to stay conscious. Both of her babies were born, but they had been taken from her so quickly, that she hadn't even had a moment to register their presence.

The faint cries of her second child echoed in the distance, but they were soon carried out of the room, just like the first.

Alone once again, Lena's tears fell silently. She had brought two new lives into the world, yet the moment was shrouded in emptiness, devoid of joy. The weight of isolation crushed her, as the overwhelming exhaustion finally pulled her into darkness.

On the beach in the Maldives, Alex returned to Izzy's side, sliding into his lounge chair as if nothing had happened. Izzy glanced up from her book, smiling at him.

"Everything okay?" she asked, her eyes warm and curious.

"Yeah," Alex replied, forcing a smile. "Just business. Nothing to worry about."

Izzy nodded, satisfied, and returned to her book. Alex stared out at the ocean, trying to shake the unease gnawing at the back of his mind. He had done what needed to be done. The twins were born, and soon they would be his and Izzy's.

But as the waves crashed against the shore, Alex couldn't escape the feeling that he had to speak to Izzy.