troubled beginnings {Vera/Harb/Navya}

Vera

Tears stream down her face as she looks at the little bundle of joy Maxis is holding as her gaze shifts towards Kara. Her face is pale with little beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She looks so tired. Vera doesn't blame her seeing as she just brought a child into the world - I think I would want to sleep too. In the background, Vera hears Maxis trying to calm a crying newborn. Nobody knows what to do, they're just in their early twenties after all, but she knows they have to do something.

"Vera, I don't know what to do."

It isn't common, but for some reason, the only thing she can think of is trying to keep the baby warm, but forming the words are almost impossible as her attention focuses solely on her friend.

"Vera -"

"Maxis, I don't know. Wrap him in a towel or something." She turns back towards Kara, "Gently!"

People around are talking loudly, and they're trying to figure out what's going on. The floor looks like a battlefield, a warzone of sorts, and yet Vera doesn't want to move or go away even when Maxis is begging her to leave.

"Vera, I need help." He almost sounds desperate, "I know she's your best friend, but I think Taylyn is taking good care of her. She'll be fine."

A heavy sigh leaves her chest as she walks away from the couch and heads towards Maxis. Neither of them has any experience raising a child, let alone knowing what to do to make sure a newborn has every chance of survival once it takes its first breath. Taylyn is someone wonderful. She's assisted in so many ways, but none of them know what they're really doing other than knowing childbirth is natural, and Kara's body did exactly what it was supposed to do.

"Maxis, I'm not sure what to do either. I don't know what to do for a newborn."

"I don't know either."

"Kara!"

Vera turns and runs. Kara is laying rigid on the bed as though every muscle in her body is contracted.

"Taylyn, what's going on?"

"I don't know."

For a moment they stand watching unsure of what to do as Maxis tries quieting the crying baby.

"I'm going to go get my mom. My mom might be able to help. I'll be back soon, I swear." Taylyn sprints heads out the door, and Vera stays besides Kara trying to do anything to help her, and then Kara relaxes completely, but it doesn't look right.

"Vera, we should've gotten someone older to help us to begin with." Maxis enters the room, and the two of them watch the shallow rise and fall of Kara's chest. "They know more than we do."

"Taylyn is getting her mom. I just hope they get back soon."

Before anyone can say another word, Kara's clinches tight again, and her face is turning purple as every muscle contracts tightly again. Vera places her hand on Kara's shoulder.

"Kara, you're okay. You're okay."

But everyone knows she's not okay, and Vera doesn't know what to do. Maxis is pacing around trying to keep himself from panicking as Taylyn runs back through the door with her mom closely behind her as Kara's entire body relaxes again.

"I need you all to go into the other room."

All three of them nod, but they stand at the doorway watching Taylyn's mom working relentlessly as more people come pouring into the home. Everyone once and a while they catch a whisper of what's being said, and none of it sounds good, and then suddenly everyone starts moving quickly, and they're pressing on her chest, and Vera stands there watching unsure of what's happening, but she silently pleads to any deity listening to save her friend.

Seconds turn into what feels like hours before they cease their efforts.

"I'm sorry, you three, but Kara is gone."

The world feels as if it stops spinning, and Vera drops to her knees as violent sobs bellow from somewhere deep inside. She's gone, dead, and just this morning she was talking about how excited she was to finally meet her child. Just this morning Kara asked Vera and Maxis to be the child's godparents, and both of them agreed saying it would be an honor. And now, none of it matters.

"You all can say your goodbyes. We'll have to notify the peacekeepers soon."

The three of them take turns saying their goodbyes, and as Vera gets closer, Maxis holds her hand letting her know she isn't alone. Just this morning, they were going to be godparents, but now it seems the two of them are going to be parents.

Vera sighs as Taylyn hands her the newborn baby boy, and she looks into his eyes, and her heart swells with love, but she has no idea what to do or where to go from here.

"Maxis, we need to get him to my place. Mom and dad will now what to do." He simply nods his head, and he holds the child close to his chest. "Taylyn, are you okay? Do you want to come with us?" She nods her head, and the three of them head out the door as Vera leads them through the dirt paths to home.

She walks through the door with Maxis and Taylyn following her.

"Mom? Dad?" Tears spring from her eyes as she falls to her knees once more. "I need you. We need you." And she's unable to form any more words as she leans forward and sobs.