Joy moaned loudly as the contraction seared through her uterus. Panting, she gazed around the hospital room feeling the regret of being alone. "Push, push, push" said the nurse, followed by the sound of a cry. "Joy! SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!!!" "What's her name?" And with Joy's somber reply she breathed, "Mary, her name is Mary."
Joy laid in her hospital bed staring at Mary. She marveled at her sweet little face and counted her tiny, curled fingers. Joy was thrilled to have a daughter but also reflected on the past couple years of abuse by her now ex-husband, Eugene.
A flashback rang through her mind of Eugene standing over top of her whipping her with a phone cord. Taunting the pregnant woman with threats against the baby growing inside her, "You're lucky I don't kick you in your stomach..." It was soon after this Joy's father Noel drove from Utah to Oklahoma to save Joy from the abuse and cruelty of Eugene. Joy shook her head quickly trying to escape the memory and focus only on little Mary.
Joy folded Mary's blankets and packed her bag in preparation to go home. The nurses wished Joy luck and blessings, and bade little Mary farewell. Noel waited by the curb for Joy and his new granddaughter. He smiled excitedly when he seen his daughter and granddaughter safe and healthy leaving the hospital.
He expressed his regret to Joy for not making it to Mary's birth. Joy's mother, Katherine had emergency surgery the day prior. Joy expressed her understanding as she kissed her father on the cheek. He asked, "Are you ready to go home?" Joy's reply, "Am I ever!"
Noel pulled up to the curb and offered further help to Joy. "No, I've got it, thanks dad" Joy said. Joy took a deep breath before approaching her apartment door. The thought of being a single mother of four was both daunting and upsetting to her. Turning the door knob, Joy quietly entered her home. The sounds of children playing across the room filled her ears. She quietly called out for her boys, triggering squeals of excitement throughout the empty apartment.
"Cody, Randy, Jeremy, this is your new baby sister! Say hello to Mary." The boys' eyes and smiles grew as large as saucers as they marveled at their new baby sister. Each boy talked excitedly to the sleeping baby, inviting her to play Legos and even hide-and-seek.
"Maybe things will get better", Joy thought, maybe this is just a new start.
YOU ARE READING
Born Into Chaos
Non-FictionJoy laid curled on the floor covering her stomach to protect her unborn child. She screamed as she took the blows from Eugene's abuse. The Vietnam vet battled to contain his mental illness. He pulled his arm back and with a swift Her three youn...
