Don't Forget
"Look at that face!"
“That’s how your mom is.” Connor said moving his finger in Messiah’s tiny hand. She held it firmly staring up at him as if captivated by his story, “She gets what she wants. She wanted you and here you are.”
Messiah had grown stronger since the last incident. During the procedure of draining her lungs, she had died for ten seconds and the doctors had to resuscitate her. The doctors said they’d never seen an infant recover from something like that, let alone at the rate Messiah did. She was even able lift part of her upper body if Connor used both his fingers to pull at her arms. She was already attempting to hold her own head to follow Connor wherever he moved. She was still very small, but the nurses reassured Connor she’d gain weight with more time and more feedings. Her hair was small black ringlets all over her head. Her mother’s daughter through and through.
“Visiting hours are over, Mr. Butler.” A nurse said at the door.
“Just ten more minutes.” He said, “She always cries and the Doctor McCarthy said”-
“We've got it covered.” The nurse interrupted. She wouldn't budge. Connor looked down at Messiah. Messiah stared back. Connor wondered if the little thing ever blinked. He tugged his finger slightly from her hand. Messiah tightened her grip, her lip poked out, and her eyebrows scrunched together.
“Look at that face!” Connor said to the nurse, “I think it deserves at least twenty minutes.”
“I’ve already given you forty,” The nurse said exasperatedly. She’d had this argument with Connor and Messiah everyday since Messiah had been moved out of the ICU. “She needs rest. She’s only a few days old and she doesn't sleep when you’re around.”
“She can handle a little sleep deprivation.” Connor shrugged, “She’s strong Doctor McCarthy said herself.” The nurse gave Connor a look that said she was close to calling the big nurses to drag him out. “Fifteen minutes final offer.”
“You have to leave now, Mr. Butler.”
“But”-
“It’ll only be for one more night, anyway.” She said over his next excuse.
“What?” Connor had honestly missed what she said. Maybe it was the shock of what she was telling him.
“She’s passed all her tests and she’s recovered as much as she can with us here.” The nurse said smiling at him a little, “You can take her home”-
“You hear that?” Connor asked Messiah. Her face had gone blank again when he didn't move to leave, “You’re going home.”
“Tomorrow!” The nurse added over him, “We need one more night of observation.”
“Details details,” Connor dismissed her. He leaned down and kissed Messiah’s nose and she sneezed, “You stay strong and when mommy wakes up I’ll keep my end of our bargain.”
He slipped his finger from her hand and her face contorted again. She let out a wail when he turned and walked away. The nurse came to sooth her, and her wails turned to shrieks. Just one more night. Just one more night. Just one more night. Connor repeated over and over in his head to will himself forward.
Messiah had grown stronger since the last incident. During the procedure of draining her lungs, she had died for ten seconds and the doctors had to resuscitate her. The doctors said they’d never seen an infant recover from something like that, let alone at the rate Messiah did. She was even able lift part of her upper body if Connor used both his fingers to pull at her arms. She was already attempting to hold her own head to follow Connor wherever he moved. She was still very small, but the nurses reassured Connor she’d gain weight with more time and more feedings. Her hair was small black ringlets all over her head. Her mother’s daughter through and through.
“Visiting hours are over, Mr. Butler.” A nurse said at the door.
“Just ten more minutes.” He said, “She always cries and the Doctor McCarthy said”-
“We've got it covered.” The nurse interrupted. She wouldn't budge. Connor looked down at Messiah. Messiah stared back. Connor wondered if the little thing ever blinked. He tugged his finger slightly from her hand. Messiah tightened her grip, her lip poked out, and her eyebrows scrunched together.
“Look at that face!” Connor said to the nurse, “I think it deserves at least twenty minutes.”
“I’ve already given you forty,” The nurse said exasperatedly. She’d had this argument with Connor and Messiah everyday since Messiah had been moved out of the ICU. “She needs rest. She’s only a few days old and she doesn't sleep when you’re around.”
“She can handle a little sleep deprivation.” Connor shrugged, “She’s strong Doctor McCarthy said herself.” The nurse gave Connor a look that said she was close to calling the big nurses to drag him out. “Fifteen minutes final offer.”
“You have to leave now, Mr. Butler.”
“But”-
“It’ll only be for one more night, anyway.” She said over his next excuse.
“What?” Connor had honestly missed what she said. Maybe it was the shock of what she was telling him.
“She’s passed all her tests and she’s recovered as much as she can with us here.” The nurse said smiling at him a little, “You can take her home”-
“You hear that?” Connor asked Messiah. Her face had gone blank again when he didn't move to leave, “You’re going home.”
“Tomorrow!” The nurse added over him, “We need one more night of observation.”
“Details details,” Connor dismissed her. He leaned down and kissed Messiah’s nose and she sneezed, “You stay strong and when mommy wakes up I’ll keep my end of our bargain.”
He slipped his finger from her hand and her face contorted again. She let out a wail when he turned and walked away. The nurse came to sooth her, and her wails turned to shrieks. Just one more night. Just one more night. Just one more night. Connor repeated over and over in his head to will himself forward.
♠ ♠ ♠
Awww what a cute baby...