THE WOLFS HEART BEAT

CHAPTER ONE – THE BIRTH

7:50PM "Rush her to the emergency ward, quickly! She'll soon give birth. Call the doctor. Hurry up, will you!", Troy yelled and he speedily wheeled his wife into St. Gregory's Hospital. He was extremely worried about his wife's condition as he had returned from work only to meet her almost unconscious outside their house. He kept praying incessantly throughout the operation."What happened? How did she get outside the house? Why was she bleeding so profusely from her arm? What had happened? Had Zinah not been with her? What is going on?" These were the questions he pondered upon while pacing back and forth outside the operating room. Minutes later, Zinah, Troy's half-sister, arrived at the hospital."Where were you, Zin? I left my wife in your care. Why all this?", Troy asked her, holding her by the collar of her shirt."I'm so sorry, Troy. I had to see a friend who promised to help me look for a job. Franca was fast asleep when I left and I hoped to return before she awoke. But by the time I returned, the neighbors told me you had brought her here. I am so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen", Zinah apologized with her head low, tears filling up her eyes."Just pray very fervently that nothing bad happens to her. You have no conscience. You left a heavily pregnant woman all alone? Did you not think about her condition before leaving? I'm so disappointed in you. I'm so disgusted by your actions. Why are you even here?""Accept my most sincere apologies, brother. I didn't mean..."Just then, the doctor walks in."Are you her husband, young man?", he asked."Yes, I am. Doc, how is she?""The wound on her arm is very deep. It's a bite. Not just any ordinary bite. Some strange specie must have bitten her. Do you live close to any forests?""The closest one to us is about a mile from our home. I hope my wife and child are safe Doc right?""Yes, they're both alive and well. We had to deliver the baby through a Cesarean Section as the mother is too shocked to push a baby. They're just a little traumatized from the whole episode that happened with whatever bit her. However, we are still running some tests to understand what exactly happened to her arm. We just have to give her and the baby some time to recover from the shock, especially your wife.""Can I see my family now?""Of course, sir. Just remember not to stress them. Congratulations on your baby, and so sorry for what happened to your wife. You may go in now"."Thank you so much doctor. You saved my family", Troy said tearfully and rushed into the ward before the doctor could even respond "You're welcome".Zinah followed behind Troy into the ward and Troy then told her "Thank your lucky stars that nothing happened to them. I would have sent you to join them as well". Zinah lowered her head in shame.Then Troy went to sit next to Franca on the bed. "Baby, what happened to you? Tell me, how are you feeling? Does it hurt a lot? I wish I could take the pain you're feeling and be in your place!" H e started crying."No baby. It's not your fault. Neither is it Zinah's fault. I left the house to stroll for a bit and ended up getting close to the forest. I decided to look for some forest berries when I suddenly heard a sound. It was deafening and scary too"."Did you see what it was baby?""No, but I did feel that it was huge. I felt its breath on my neck .Before I could turn around to look at it, something just pierced through my arm. I thought it was chopped off. I got scared and panicked, saw blood and passed out. After a while, I remember not being able to move my legs but I felt I was being carried. Next thing I know, I see myself in the hospital. I'm just glad to be alive. I never thought I'd make it, or get to see you again", Franca narrated slowly, stroking Troy's chin and crying too."This is so much pain for you baby. I'm here to support you okay", Troy replied."Aunty, I'm really sorry I left you all alone in the house. If I didn't go out, maybe things would have been different and you wouldn't be here under so much pain. Please forgive me. I'm deeply sorry", Zinah said kneeling beside Franca's bed with teary eyes."Zinah, please don't blame yourself for this okay. It's not your fault. I forgive you. Get up. Right now, as long as I have my family, I will make it out of this hospital strong and healthy. I just need your prayers and support", Franca replied, smiling at her husband and gesturing to Zinah to stand up.A nurse the walks in with the baby she had just delivered. He was all cleaned up and clothed and wrapped in swaddling clothes. "Here's your baby ma'am", she said as she laid him in his mother's arms."He's so cute, just like his father", Franca said smiling."Congratulations Troy. Congratulations auntie. Thank you, God for keeping this precious baby up till now. We will forever be indebted to you", Zinah prayed while hugging her brother and smiling at the happy parents."We need to find out what creature it was that bit you. Also, this baby is the best thing that has ever happened to me, after meeting you of course. I just hope the bite didn't do anything funny to him. He's so cute!", Troy said."Indeed brother", Zin added.Amidst all this happiness, Franca smiled herself to sleep.

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