Evan
Pregnancy is the most beautiful experience of a woman's life, as some would say. A pregnant woman is nature's most beautiful entity; she has a life growing inside her womb which is no less than a miracle. A man would do anything for the woman who gives birth to his child and a true man would stand by her woman throughout the pregnancy, to share her pain as much as possible.
That explains why for nine months, I bore the torture that came with the pregnancy, without any complain. Scarlet's mood swings were the most difficult thing I have ever been through in my life, and I have been through a lot of bad things. Pregnancy has turned the sweetest angel I have ever seen to an emotional wreck. And it makes me want to do a vasectomy as soon as she is back to her non-pregnant self.
..........
Day 30 of pregnancy
We got to know about her pregnancy a week earlier. According to the schedule that the obstretician had given us, this was the fifth week of her pregnancy.
On returning from the doctor, I made her eat her dinner and then we both went straight to bed. I have been avoiding coffee with her, because I know she would get tempted by seeing me drinking it. Due to no caffeine in my system, sleep easily came to me until sound of silent sobs woke me up.
I opened my eyes and found Scarlet sitting on the bed, hugging her knees, her brown eyes filled with unshed tears.
"God, what happened?" I rose to sitting position and scooted beside her. "Why are you crying?"
"I don't know." She said, rubbing her eyes.
"Huh? You don't know?" I asked in confusion.
"I don't know, Evan. I can't sleep and I just want to cry the whole night." She said and another tear streamed down her cheeks.
"Oh. Do you need anything?" I asked.
"No," she pouted and sobbed again.
The doctor had already warned me that sometimes, a pregnant woman can experience emotional instabilities and I should just be calm with her.
Sighing, I pulled her towards me into a hug. Rubbing her shoulders gently, I whispered, "You can cry as much as you want."
I let her sit there while she cried her heart out. I felt wetness all over my chest as I continued massaging her back with my fingers. It was half an hour later when her sobs stopped and her breathing turned shallower. Once I was sure she was asleep, I lay her back on the bed and lay down beside her.
............
Day 51 of pregnancy
In the middle of night, a hand touched my arm and shook me slightly. I knew it was Scarlet and I knew what she wanted. I regularly wake up in the middle of the night and find her awake. Some nights, she is too excited to have a baby and some nights, she is too emotional on going through this process.
Tonight, when I woke up, she looked neither too happy, nor too sad. "What happened babe?" I asked, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand.
"I didn't want to disturb you but..."
"But?"
"I am craving for a cheeseburger real bad." She said, looking distressed for waking me up from my night.
"But you don't even like cheeseburger." I said in confusion.
"Well, your baby does." She scowled.
"Okay, okay. I will get it." I rose to sitting position and kissed her.
Hopping out of bed, I went to the closet to change and walked out in a shirt and pants.
"Evan," she called my name again. "Can you bring two cheeseburgers? With extra fries?"
"Whatever you wish." I smiled and made my way out of the house. After finding the whole city for cheeseburgers at 4am in the night, when I finally returned, I found her sleeping peacefully.
............
Day 104 of pregnancy
Like many other night, I woke up to the voice of silent sobs beside me. I narrowed my eyes into small slits and watched Scarlet eating a sandwich while tears fell down her soft cheeks non-stop.
"What happened?" I asked and yawned.
"I... I have gained 4 pounds in this last week." She said and ate another bite of the sandwich.
"Aw... It's okay. You are pregnant. Of course, you are going to gain some weight." I said. She still looked very cute and despite the small bump on her stomach, the rest of her still looked the same.
"So you mean I do look fat?" She asked, scrunching her nose.
"I... I didn't say that." I coughed to clear my throat.
"But you feel like I do." She said.
"Scarlet, you look absolutely stunning. And the pregnancy glow just make you look sexier. Believe me." I said honestly.
"I do?" She whispered.
"Yes, you do." I said and took the empty plate of sandwich out of her hand. "Come on now, sleep." I said and helped her lay down. Kissing her forehead, I placed my hand over her baby bump and closed my eyes.
..........
Day 153 of pregnancy
This night, it wasn't Scarlet who woke me up. Instead, it was the sound of door closing and opening that did the deed. I opened my eyes and found Scarlet coming out of the bathroom, her hand resting over her baby bump and a layer of sweat covering her forehead.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"This is my eighth trip to the bathroom. How can I be fine?" She breathed out loud and sat down on the chair beside the bathroom door. "I have placed it here so I can rush inside whenever I want to pee."
"I wish I could do something." I said, feeling bad for her.
"You can cover your penis the next time you make love to me." She grunted, rushing once again inside the bathroom. She appeared out of the bathroom two minutes later and sat down on the chair with a sigh. "I am really sorry Evan."
"It's okay. I understand." I said and walked over to her. I placed another chair beside her and sat down, pulling her hand into mine. "I am here for you."
"Thanks," She said and rested her head on my shoulder. "For bearing me."
"Any day." I smiled.
...........
Day 210 of pregnancy
I tossed and turned on the bed, feeling a little uneasy. I felt like someone was watching me every closely so I opened my eyes, catching Scarlet staring at me with her head raised on her elbow.
"Hey," I smiled, rubbing my eyes.
"Hi." She whispered, looking slightly lost in thoughts.
"What are you thinking?" I asked.
"I am sorry. I am being so impossible these days." She said.
"No you aren't. You are carrying my child, you have all right to be impossible." I said.
"Um... Evan, is there someone else in your life?" She asked, a hint of frown on her forehead.
I had no idea what was going on in her mind or what made her feel like I have an affair. "I do not have anyone else Scarlet." I sighed.
"You are lying, aren't you? See, I look like a hippopotamus so it's obvious you'd get interested in her." She said.
"Who is this her?" I questioned.
"There was a woman calling you. Claudia," she said, glaring at my mobile.
I chuckled at this. "Claudia is my aunt. She lives in London and called to tell me about his son coming tomorrow to join my company."
"Are you telling the truth?" She still sounded suspicious.
"I swear I am. Now go back to sleep. I love you." I said and closed my eyes.
"I love you too." She said though a hint of disbelief was still evident in her voice.
...........
Day 258 of pregnancy
A hand slipped inside my shirt and trailed down my abs, causing all the blood of my body to rush south. I hummed in my sleep, clenching my eyes tighter.
"Evan," Scarlet whispered in my ears and her voice sounded deep and hoarse.
I opened my eyes and found a very pregnant Scarlet staring at me with her hooded eyes. She was reaching close to term and her mood swings were getting more irrational.
"Yep." I replied.
"Make love to me." She said and my eyes bulged out of the orbits.
"Wh... What? You are nine months pregnant babe. I don't think it would be safe or... Um possible." I said, staring at her belly.
"Why? Because you're disgusted by me?"
"That's not why. I... I..." I looked around in baffled state. Having sex with a wife this close to term was a little weird for me. Besides, her due date was just three weeks away so I didn't want to take any risk or cause any trauma.
"Fine, go back to sleep." She said and lay back on the bed, closing her eyes tightly.
Letting out a deep exhale, I scooted near her and massaged her head lightly. "It will all be over soon and we will have a cute little baby in our arms." I said to calm her. We had decided not to find the sex of the baby yet.
"I am afraid of the birth process. I watched a video and it looked really painful." She said, pouting.
"You are the strongest woman I know. You will get through it." I said and kissed her forehead.
"Hope so." She said and closed her eyes. I stayed like that and continued massaging her head until she was asleep.
............
Day 270 of pregnancy
"Evan," Scarlet's voice reached me and I nodded in my sleep. "When is my due date?"
"There are two weeks." I mumbled in my sleep without waking up. These days, she was getting too stressed by thinking of the time of delivery.
"Evan," she whispered again.
"No, you aren't fat sweetheart. It's just the baby weight." I said and clenched my eyes. I was too tired now after working in the office for the whole day that opening my eyes seemed like a hell to me. "And if you're hungry, there is your favourite cheeseburger in the refrigerator. Call Kelly to warm it up."
"Evan," she called my name again. "I think we are having a baby now." Her voice was followed by a deep grunt. Hearing this, my eyes shot open. I found her knelt on the floor with a pool of yellowish liquid on the floor.
"Oh God," I said in panic and rushed towards her.
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The next chapter is going to be the epilogue.
Till then,
Here are some questions for you.
1. Your favourite character in the book and why?
2. Your least favourite character in the book and why?
3. Your favourite moment?