21 October 2007

— he had no time —

He had no time, no time at all. In fact, he didn't even know what time it was. The watch had stopped long ago. Or maybe it was short ago. It was anyone's guess because the watch was gone and his sense of time was terrible. He would think a couple minutes had passed when it had been an hour, and vice versa.

So why, you ask, did he have an inkling that he had no time, no time at all? Well, it might be because the water had broken. It might be because her face was red and slick with cold sweat. It might be because the veins in her neck and forehead were bulging. It might be because she was screaming-pain and swearing-pain. And perchance it was because she was shrieking, "IT'S COMING!"

He entertained the idea that he didn't have time when she laid down right there in the middle of the hallway of the house and struggled with her pants until they were off. He speculated on it when she grabbed his hands and told him what to do as they both sat down on the floor. He considered it when he told her to breath and push and that he was here. How could he deliver his own child? This isn't how it is supposed to happen.

Either way, he postulated that he had no time when she lolled her head back and cried and pushed harder. He was rather sure he had no time when he saw the carpet stain beneath them. He fathomed it when he saw a shiny ball of head appear and his hands reaching out to guide it. He suspected it when wet shoulders appeared. He alleged it when a chest, a stomach, thighs and legs appeared. When two feet came forth, he was fairly certain his suspicions were correct.

When he looked the baby in the face, he knew…

SarahMichelle Ogden is a pacifist scribe. She also takes pictures.

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