Her Runaway Prince

“Alright then Miss Douglas, you’re dilating rather quickly. This is gonna be your last chance so think carefully about this: are you sure you don’t want an epidural?” The doctor asked her with a sense of urging her to take it. She still refused. Even Petro had tried to convince her a few months prior. However, she was completely certain. No matter the pain, she wanted to experience every little thing.

This changed after two hours.

“OH MARY JESUS AND JOSEPH I CHANGED MY MIND, GIVE ME THE FU*KING EPIDURAL!” Amanda cried out.

“I’m sorry miss, you’re too far along now. You’ll just have to tough it out from here on,” The doctor told her.

“Hey, hey, honey. Listen to me. Look at me. Deep breaths. In and out, in and out.” Petro took her hand and immediately he realized his fingers might be broken. Her grip was tighter than a vice. Yet he didn’t let himself show any pain. A few broken knuckles was worth it for the love of his life, after all.

“Amanda, look at me. Listen to me. I know it hurts. But you need to not focus on that. You need to focus on what it all leads to. Imagine, soon it’ll be three of us. The three Johansenteers.” Amanda tried her best to laugh at his dry joke.

“Yeah. Three of us. That sounds good. I like that,” she stammered out.

“Just imagine it, you and me, on the couch, the prit prat of his tiny footsteps on the hardwood floor. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?”

“It does.”

“And we’ll love him and take care of him because he will be the most precious creature on this earth. Because we will love him as we love each other. And we will care for him as we care for each other. We’re so close to our happy ending. Just push through my love, just push through.”

And push through she did. She cried out in agony, yet still there was a smile on her face. Petro was right. Their happily-ever-after was just around the corner. First their son. Then their wedding then the rest of their lives together, as a proper family.

Amanda cried out loud, nearly crushing Petro’s hand as she pushed as hard as she could. Suddenly, a sharp cry echoed through the room. Petro had to take a look around and make sure it wasn’t his mother. And when he did, both him and Amanda locked eyes on the beautiful little baby boy in the hands of the doctor.

“There he is Amanda. Just look at him. Our little Michael.” Petro smiled and they both instantly fell in love with the tiny creature before them. They had taken the second step towards their happy ending. The end of their prequel was near. The real adventure was about to begin.

*****

“Time for me to show you one of the most amazing things about this country,” Petro whispered into Amanda’s ear, pushing the wheelchair along the corridors of the hospital.

Little Michael was still fast asleep, his head nestled against her bosom. Amanda still felt slightly groggy from the childbirth, but she saw Petro was beaming and she was willing to do anything to keep that glow.

“So what exactly are you going to show me?” she asked him.

“Oh, don’t you worry, you’ll love it.” He kissed her on the cheek softly.

When they finally reached the exit, he gently rubbed her shoulders.

“Okay, are you ready?” he asked her excitedly.

Amanda didn’t really know if she was ready, but now her damned curiosity had gotten the better of her again so she had to see it through.

“Yes, I am. So show me.”

Petro pushed the wheelchair forward until the doors slid open. Once they reached outside and Amanda’s eyes became accustomed to the sun again, she finally understood what he was so excited about.

All around them were people eagerly awaiting to see the new parents. The buildings were decorated. One even had a gigantic mosaic of their three faces plastered on the side. There were people cheering, praying, singing. Everybody seemed so ecstatic for them. Amanda felt so important at that moment. She felt as if she was part of something bigger.

“All of this because I had a child?” she asked.

“Yep. Our people have always celebrated births. Childbirth is the most selfless act imaginable. Putting your body through months of discomfort, then proceeding to put your body through hours of agonizing torture, all so you can give life to something for the pure purpose of loving and nurturing it? The kindest act there is. Mostly people celebrate in private, but a royal birth.. hat’s always cause for grand celebration.”

Amanda felt dumbfounded. She’d never thought of giving birth in that way before. She felt as if her whole mentality had shifted.

“Oh look, here comes the best part,” Petro said jubilantly and pointed at the street.

A parade started moving through. Giant floats adorned with pictures and recreations moved down the street.

Both Petro and Amanda had their eyes glued to the spectacular show. Even baby Michael had woken up and became hypnotized by the beautiful colors of the different floats. There was a silence between all of them as they simply enjoyed their first proper memorable moment as a family.