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Only six months had passed since Elena had gone through the abortion.
Spending an afternoon at some friends’ house, Elena felt constantly sick after having lunch. At that moment she thought it to be because of the food, that was front loaded with seasoning. The housewife was from Turkey and she cooked meals with diverse kinds of seasoning, which made the food tastier and very different from the food Elena was used to eating daily. When lunch was over it was getting late and Elena said goodbye to all the guests. She thanked the housewife for the invitation and went home. Arriving at her house she felt sick in the stomatch followed by strong nausea. Elena ran towards the bathroom to puke. She lifted the toilet seat and kneeled in front of it. Seconds later the feeling passed and Elena started to feel better. She washed her face on the bathroom’s sink and went to the kitchen, where she prepared a lemongrass tea to drink.
During the night it was nearly impossible for Elena to get some sleep. After the nausea went away she now felt discomforting abdominal cramps. She started to get worried, for she had never gotten sick and suddenly all those symptons left her scared. Once again she made some tea to aliviate the tension and tried to sleep right after.
Elena was alone at home and had to wait until dawn to go to a doctor.
When the dawn came Elena changed her clothes and went to the nearest hospital. Arriving there, the lobby was empty. There was only a man and a woman waiting to be called. Elena filled the file at the reception counter.
_ Very well now you may wait at the waiting room and you’ll be called by name. Said the receptionist while filling the file.
_ Thank you. Said Elena with a half-bad smile. It didn’t take long as she was soon called by the nurse who took her to a small office and asked her to put on a robe, then she had her pressure and heart beats taken.
_ Your pressure and heart beat are fine.
_ Now you wait a few minutes and the doctor will come to see you. After having been examined thoroughly by the doctor, he concluded that there was nothing wrong with Elena. And all those symptons could only indicate that she was pregnant, however she still had to make a more detailed exam, preferably a blood one, to prove the pregnancy. Elena was about to jump and hug the doctor out of happiness.
Arriving home, everything was quite as usual, a few hours later John arrives from work. Elena surprises him again with the news of pregnancy, but John as always treated her with ignorance. Elena pretends to not understand, for nothing mattered more than that for her at that moment. On the other day John arrives home telling Elena that they’re gonna have to move from there, for the priest was going to start to reform the house and the church, but she didn’t need to worry, for he had already managed to rent another house in a small district of Ann Arbor, Michigan. As the city was a little distant, they’d have to hit the road soon. Elena always asked about what would it be like for his job, John said he had already arranged everything with his boss and was going to work in a privatized federal bank near the city that belonged to his company. Elena had to be fast in packing her things so they could leave the house right away before the bricklayers arrived. As Elena didn’t have many things to pack, that was quite fast.
When they arrived to the new property the house was near a ravine, submerged in a cornfield e just ahead there was a meadow filled with cows, bulls and horses. To arrive in the residence it took passing through the only dirt road that connected to the main road. Elena would need to walk for about 40 minutes to pick up any kind of transportation. She thought about how it would be when she was in a more advanced stage of the pregnancy to go to the hospital, but tried not to think about that for now. John took a day off at work and helped Elena to organize her clothes, clean the house and dust off the furniture the old resident of the house had left after leaving. When the night came in the house, there was no electric power and Elena lit up a lamp to light the house. John told her that power would be installed soon and that now they needed to rest, for he was going to work on the next day. Then John readied the bed and laid down. Elena lied right afterwards and turned to the other side, with her back to John. She took a while to fall asleep, and she kept thinking about what it would be like to spend the following night alone there, while John was out on his security job. A little later she ended up closing her eyes and finally slept.
Eight months later Elena had to go to the hospital, for she felt a lot of abdominal pain. The contractions were too strong. With all that belly it was going to be hard to move to the main road and take a bus to the nearest hospital. Luckily John arrived exactly when Elena was leaving and closing the door. Upon learning what was going on, John went down to a neighbor’s house to pick up his car that was parked in his garage.
The dirt road that led to the city presented a few obstacles which resulted in a big delay for John to get to the hospital. Approximately nearly 1 hour and 30 minutes later, they arrived on the hospital. John exited the car and took Elena to the lobby carrying her on his arms. Elena felt the amniotic sac tearing and needed to find a doctor quite fast. A doctor that was on call at that moment was waiting by the reception and promptly went to see her in his room. John chose to wait on the lobby, while she was examined by the doctor. Analysing certain factors registered by the exame, the doctor noticed that the child had the umbilical cord revolved around the neck. The doctor told Elena that due to the circumstances her baby couldn’t be born out of normal labour. He was still not in the correct direction for birth therefore she had to undergo a cesarean section. Elena didn’t hesistate and told the doctor to do whatever it took to save her baby’s life.
And the surgery began.
Everything went on fine with Elena and the child during the surgery. Because of anesthesics, Elena slept deeply and only came to wake up the next morning when the nurse brought the baby to her. Elena called her Amanda for she was loved by God. John had gone to work and only came back to the hospital two days later to take them home.
The routine at the house was always very hard and demanded a large effort. Now with a little kid it was going to be a lot more complicated for Elena to take care of her in that house without any material comfort. The water was collected from an artesian well. And when John didn’t leave enough water stored, Elena had to go out to collect water from the well.
The doctor had suggested Elena a month of rest, until the stitches closed completely.
_ If I stay in bed, who’s gonna look after my daughter, while I rest? Says Elena by the morning while getting up from the bed slowly to wash Amanda’s diapers and baby clothes, remembering that the doctor had recommended that she took an absolute time-out due to the stitches from the surgery.
Even with all the difficulties she face alone there in that residence that was completely isolated from the world, Elena was happy for being a mother, every cry from Amanda sounded like an old chorus. The sound of a beautiful song, the song of life. When feeding her Elena discovers the greatness of maternal love, the peak instant where mother and daughter enjoy this precise affection. Fulfilling all her daughter’s needs made Elena alert and gave her a goal in life, a purpose.
Elena had sent a letter to her parents informing them about Amanda’s birth and waited news from them, for she missed and longed for them very much.
When Amanda was three years old Elena finds out that she’s pregnant again. Even if not expecting it she’s happy to know she’ll have one more son or a daughter, and Amanda will have some company to play.
When Elena told John about the pregnancy, he seemed more satisfied and familiarized with the news than when Elena told him she was pregnant of Amanda.
Time went on and Elena’s belly was growing quite fast.
Elena wasn’t as young as she was when pregnant of Amanda anymore. Her legs hurt a lot to climb through the ravine to her house on the days she came back from the prenatal consultations. She only felt better when she sat and immerged her feet in a bowl with warm water. The weight of the belly made Elena indisposed and she felt a lot of back pain. John thought it was better for Elena to spend a few days at James and Gloria’s house, until she had the baby. They were a couple of friends that John knew, however Elena had no friendsip bonds with the family; but giving the circumstances she didn’t have much choice.
James, owner of a bakery and Gloria a craftswoman, worked from home. The couple had two sons, Ben and Steve. Gloria was a very kind woman and upon seeing Elena with that enormous tummy and little Amanda with a sad look, the promptly accepted to help her until whenever it was needed.
_ Welcome to my home! Lovingly said Gloria.
The year was ending and streets were filled with people from several different races and ethnicities, united in hopes of a better world. Fireworks were often blown up and the noise was stunning. Some fireworks lit up the whole sky filling it with glowing light, other emitted a cascade of a glimmering glow similar to a large constellation of shooting stars. The loud noise scared the baby who moved constantly inside Elena’s belly.
Gloria had gathered a few relatives in her house, and was throwing a big party for the arrival of the new year. All the guests dressed in white outfits were looking forward to the clock-hands striking midnight, to see the great and traditional lightshow that took place every year. The new year was nearing and certainly little would change in everyone’s lives, but they had to hope and believe that it could be a better year. Many people performed a midnight ritual rigorously, such as skipping seven waves, lighting a candle and making a wish. The women wore panties of a specific color to draw good things amongst other sympathies. Elena didn’t like any of that and just appreciated the fireworks.
Elena had already completed nine months on the previous week and she was anxious for the baby’s arrival. She still didn’t know the sex but wanted it to be another girl. Elena was feeling funny since the morning. A slightly intense pain on the abdominal cavity was a little bothersome, however she didn’t wanna bother Gloria for that and didn’t say anything. As it got late the contractions rose and during the night they were getting stronger and more intense. She needed to go urgently to the medical station.
Gloria was mad at Elena, for not having informed what she was feeling, but deemed better to take her immediately to the hospital. She took her car and drove to the hospital. On the backseats were Amanda and Ben, Glória’s oldest son who held Amanda’s hand. Amanda cried not knowing what was happening.
_ Relax my dear, don’t cry.
_ Mommy’s gonna be okay. _ Your little brother or sister is about to be born. Said Gloria trying to calm Amanda down.
_ Don’t worry Elena stay calm, try to control your breathing.
_ We’re almost at the hospital. Gloria, very tense, tries to drive as fast as she can.
John had spent Christmas day at home, at the end of the year he was on call at work and Gloria couldn’t warn him that his baby was about to be born. He then would only know about it when he came back home.
Arriving at the hospital everything was silent and quiet, on the counter were a nurse and a receptionist polishing her nails. When at the counter Gloria asks desperately for help.
_ Please, my friend is going into labor, quick somebody bring a doctor, please. The nurse rushes to the car, helps Elena out of it and puts her in a wheelchair to take her to the birth room. The amniotic sac had not tore, however Elena was at an advanced stage of dilatation. Gloria stayed on the lobby filling the file with Elena’s data and signed the document as the patient’s responsible companion. Amanda and Ben played through the halls.
It was still two hours to midnight, when the baby was finally born. The doctor held the baby by her feet and gave her a soft smack on the butt and she then started crying loudly. Then he wiggled her body lightly and congratulated Elena for her daughter.
Elena breathed in relief with her face wet in sweat and told the doctor she was going to call her Maggie. The nurse cleaned Maggie wrapped her in a towel and put her in her mommy’s arms.
When the clock striked midnight, fireworks exploded and lit up the sky; giving a terrific lightshow at every corner of the world. Even with all that noise outside the building, Maggie was sound asleep as if nothing was happening; right after feeding for the first time. Elena was exhausted after the birth and also fell asleep, to wake only the next day. As it was late at night Gloria ended up spending the night at the hospital in the waiting room, sleeping on a soft couch with Amanda and her son. When it was morning Gloria and Amanda wanted to meet the baby. And when she entered the room, Elena held the baby in her arms, wrapped in a blanket.
_ Come in, come in quickly to meet my daughter. Said Elena as soon as she saw them enter the room. When Gloria nears the bed, she sees a beautiful baby, with bright skin and a pair of big pinkie cheeks. Gloria was immediately in love.
_ Congratulations!
_ Your daughter is beautiful! Exclaimed Gloria.
_ Now you tell me have you got a name for? And what about the godmother?
_ If you still haven’t picked anyone, please pick me. Elena smiled.
_ Well, her name will be Maggie, and after everything you’ve done for us I don’t even need to think. But of course I want that and I’d very much like for you and James to be her godparents.
_ What do you say Gloria do you accept? Asks Elena.
_ Of course yes. Gloria answers smiling.
_ Do want to hold her a little?
_ Of course.
_ She’s so soft and smells so good.
_ Makes me even want another kid.
_ You could try again. _ Who knows now it’ll be a girl.
_ Yeah, who knows. _ If James agrees to.
Amanda was just observing in the room up until Elena called her to meet her sister, Amanda let out a smile.
_ Look daughter it’s your little sister!
_ Talk to her. Amanda put her hand over Maggie’s belly to see if she was real. And stroked Maggie’s face, who was observant of everything that took place around her.
Elena needed to stay another day resting in the hospital, however Gloria needed to shower, and the kids also needed to eat and change their clothes. And, beyond that, she was gonna check on her house after the party. Gloria went away taking Amanda with her.
John went to pick up Elena and her daughter on the hospital the next morning. Elena had already been discharged by the doctor and was only waiting for someone to take her home. John didn’t show much enthusiasm upon meeting her daughter except for smiling, and told them to go home quickly.
Gloria didn’t seem bothered with Elena’s presence in her home, but Elena felt that she was a third wheel there, and that Gloria had no privacy in her house anymore. After spending a long period of time in Gloria’s residence, Elena knew it was about time to go home. Upon arriving at Gloria’s, Elena learned something that made her uneasy; John had taken Amanda home with him, without her consent. Elena had left the daughter under Gloria’s care. Amanda spent a day and a night with John and then he brought her back to Gloria’s.
_ Why did John had taken Amanda with him, he never gave much attention to his daughter. Elena wondered while looking fixatedly at John, he hadn’t even noticed it, for he was talking to James. Gloria tried to reason with Elena saying that John was her father and could do no harm to the daughter, but Elena knew her husband very well and didn’t trust him one bit. She thought best to calmly ask Amanda later when they were both home alone.
_ Thank you so much for allowing my family to stay in your house.
_ I look forward to you visiting my house, it’ll be a pleasure to have you. John thanked James and Gloria for the hospitality.
_ It’s with great pleasure that we accept the invitation.
_ If you need any help just say the word. Says James shaking John’s hand.
_ It was a pleasure meeting you and thank you for everything, sorry for any trouble. Says Elena to the couple and then they said goodbye and left.
Upon opening the house’s door, the smell of mold transpired from within. The house had been locked up for too long, and therefore the doors and windows needed to be opened immediately, so that some fresh air could circulate and chase away the bad scent.
A fresh wind blew by, winter had come, and by the next few days the temperature would drop considerably. It was very cold, sometimes snowing, which made the mounts completely white, and the streets of the city too. During the night Elena lit the fireplace to keep the house warm.
Amanda left to play on the frontyard floor with her doll. Elena prepped a bath to give Maggie, her first bath as a matter of fact. John lied on the bed to rest a little before it was time for him to leave to work. The birth of his daughters seemed to have softened John’s heart. He wasn’t that rude to Elena anymore, however still possessed a cold and distant temperament.
When John left, Elena called Amanda for a talk and filled her with questions about the day she spent alone in the house with him. As Amanda was still too young she didn’t know how to answer her mother’s questions very well, told her only what she could recollect. But what Elena really needed to know, was if John had molested his daughter and Amanda didn’t know how to answer.
Maggie spent her first two years there, in that house on the middle of nowhere, surrounded by gigantic trees that made the house refreshed in the summer. In the hottest nights it was only possible to sleep with the window open, Elena was a little scared. There was also no electric power on the surroundings, and during the nights everything was pitch black. When it was full moon period and the sky wasn’t clouded, it got slightly bright. The moonlight lit the whole field.
In the dark of the night silence and the magnificent veil of darkness reigned sovereign.
Elena prayed every night, asking God for protection, and so that no harm came to her and her daughters. Elena spent many nights up, watching the house afraid that some wrongdoer would break into it and attack them. In a job’s end, John was again transferred from his job to Monroe, Wisconsin. He needed to be very quick to rent a house in the city to take his family. John traveled there before in search of a residence. When he arrived in town it wasn’t easy to find a house. Most of the residences were for sale, and the only house available for rent was away from the city. And with no alternative John settled for that house. But that wouldn’t be the best choice for that family.
A robbery in the dead of night almost destroyed Elena’s family, leaving deep scars and giving her life a new direction.