Destiny

Chapter 22- Congratulations

Andrew's P.O.V

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I woke up startled by the muffled cough of someone standing nearby. I rubbed my eyes as I slowly awakened myself, I could feel crustiness of drool which had dried to my cheek, from this I knew that I had been asleep for quite a while. When I saw who it was that was standing there, I automatically stood up and awaited to be informed of the state of my girlfriend and children.

"Nurse."

Her golden curls were hanging down by her shoulders, which had been covered by her pale blue uniform. Before she spoke, she pulled her hair back and tied it into a loose bun, which made her look surprising like his English teacher: Miss Owen.

"Andrew, congratulations. You are now a father."

For a moment, it was impossible for me to speak. I had been waiting for this news for almost four hours, but when someone said it out loud, it seemed to bring home the reality of my situation. I couldn't help but smile, making me look extremely idiotic, standing in a waiting room, smiling like an idiot.

"Thank you so much, nurse." I replied.

"Don't thank me, sir. She is in recovery, and your two beautiful children are in intensive care. Don't worry, they are perfectly healthy. The boy, weighs in at six pounds nine ounces, and the little girl, she is stunning; weighing in at six pounds seven ounces. Follow me."

She glanced at me reasurringly, and then led me towards a pair of painfully white doors. I read the sign above it: RECOVERY. Finally, I was going to be reunited with the mother of my children, although I hadn't been away from her long, it still made all the difference. 

I was led down a long room, filled with hospital beds and dozens of people: all either laughing, crying or taking photos of their new babies. Even though I hadn't comprehended it yet, these people were just like me: they had been waiting for this day all of their lives, and even if they didn't plan it, they were so happy that they finally had someone to look after. A reason to live.

"Here she is." The nurse pointed towards a bed, exactly the same as all the other beds on this ward, with a metal frame, and a blue curtain hanging next to it. As soon as I saw her I couldn't help but smile, she looked so peaceful; her brown, curly hair hanging down over her eyes, curled up underneath a thin blanket. Seeing her, lying there, I remembered the night this all started, I often do think about that night. It was perfect. She was perfect.

I sat down in the armchair, which was placed beside the hospital bed; when I sat down, the cold leather sent tingles over my skin. Subconsciously, I reached out and grabbed hold of Ezme's soft hand, as soon as I did so, her eyes slowly flickered open.

"Ez." I rose up out of the chair, and moved over to her bed side, gently sitting beside her beautiful body. 

"Hey Andy," she sat up, rubbing her eyes. 

"How you feelin'?" I asked, whilst stroking the palm of her hand.

"Good, surprisingly. Andy, can you do me a favour?"

"Of course, anything."

"Could you go find the nurse, I want to see our babies."

"Of course, I'll be back in a minute."

I stood up, and began to walk down the long room, but I stopped when I was started by a voice behind me.

"Andrew." It was Ezme's dad.

"Hey, where have you been?" I asked, walking towards him.

"I've been with Ez, but I went to the canteen to pick up some food." I looked down at his hands: a sandwich, cheese and onion crisps, and a can of diet coke.

"Oh, okay. Ezme's awake, I'm just going to find a nurse, so that we can see the babies. I'll be back in a few minutes."

I continued my journey down the narrow room, subconsciously I reached my hand into the front pocket of my jeans, I felt the soft touch of what seemed like a box. I pulled it out of my pocket and glanced down at it. I had completely forgotten about it; the day before I had walked down to the town center, and had bought a gift for Ezme. A ring. Silver, with a 5 carat diamond, the perfect ring. Bought with the money I had been saving up since I was fifteen years old. I buried the box back into my pocket, and covered the bump with my coat. 

"Nurse." I raised a hand to the nurse I had spoken to previously, the one with the beautiful golden hair.

"Yes, sir. Can I help you?" 

"Yes, Ezme is awake, and we were wondering if we could finally see our babies."

"Of course, sir. This way." She, once again, lead me down the hallway, through some corridors, and to a large room, filled with tiny babies in little incubators.

"Thank you, nurse. But, please call me Andrew, 'Sir' sounds too sophisticated."

She laughed slightly. "Of course, Andrew. These," she pointed down to two small incubators, "are your babies."

Words could not describe just how beautiful they were; so many people say that all babies look the same, but when you have one- or two in my case- you would be able to pick them out of a crowd, even when you've only seen them once.

"May I?" I curled both hands round either side of one of the babies.

"Of course, he is yours after all."

"He? Dylan."

I scooped the stunning boy up into my arms, cradling him. I stared down at his face, this handsome little creature was mine, and even though I didn't know it: this was what I had been waiting for my entire life. 

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I will write more soon.