"Serita Stevens - The Unborn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stevens Serita)

Both Mom and I were glad when he was gone. Then she could play her music. Mozart she told me -- and would hum to me. It was times like these when I really wanted to be born, to let her cuddle me in her arms.

* * *

Eddie continued to become more and more irrational in his behavior. I pleaded with Mom to get away from him. Maybe I had a premonition. I tried to tell her that I didn't like him, but she'd talk to me and placate me, saying that she told me lots of other things, too. Things she probably wouldn't have said if she knew I really listened to her.
I was reaching the end of my seventh month. Only two more to go and then Mom and I would really be together. But I feared for her and I was afraid of Eddie.

* * *

"Did you have to look at that guy like that?" he asked, slamming the door as we came home one night from a party.

"Eddie that guy is my doctor!" She paused. "And I wasn't looking at him."

"Don't lie to me!"

He hit her again and again. I felt my own anger growing as I clenched my fist. If I could have cried I would have. But my tear ducts weren't yet formed.

Eddie was beating us almost daily now. I hated him more and more. Now when we were alone, she didn't play her music. She just cried. I wanted to reach up and comfort her. I wanted to tell her how it hurt me when she was sad. But she wouldn't listen to me and she wouldn't leave him. This man wasn't worthy of being my father. I knew I was going to have to take matters into my own hands.

I was eight and a half months when he hit us again.

"Eddie, please. I love you. The baby loves you."

No, I don't! She knew I didn't. But she was so sacred of him she would lie.

He continued hitting her. I tried covering my head and fending off the blows that were coming to me. I yearned to protect my mother, but I couldn't. I was too helpless.

The punches continued until I could barely breathe -- and suddenly there was silence. Not even a heart beat from above. I found myself gasping for air.

In the distance I heard him crying, "Oh, Janey! My God, Janey!" The sound of the ambulance siren was the last thing I heard as I vowed that I would survive and I'd make him pay.

I'm not sure exactly what happened after that. I heard noises again and knew that I hadn't died. Then I saw the brilliant white lights.

Rubber gloved hands lifted me out and away from Mom. They cut the cord which had bound us all those months.

"Apgar 5," a voice said. "I think we might have saved her. Get her into the incubator. Start the oxygen. Run a bilirubin."

They righted me and I looked back at the table. My mother lay there --unmoving. I knew she was dead and I let out a shriek.

The nurse rolled my crib out past two men standing in the hall. I didn't have to ask which one was Eddie. His nervous pacing and blood shot eyes gave him away. God, he looked hideous with his low bushy brows and huge nose. I hoped I hadn't inherited anything from him. Hatred curled my fist which I stuffed in my mouth, vowing my revenge.

As I was driven past, the guy in the white coat put on a hand on Eddie's shoulder.

"I'm sorry Mr. Hutchins. We tried to save her but--"

"Oh, my God! No! No, Janey isn't dead. I loved her. I swear, I did."

The doctors voice was smooth. "Of course, you did. But we reached her too late."

He paused.