The Taàr (Dystopia #01)

ved her hands to her big round belly, ensuring it w

on her elbows, Ela looked out of the window to her left. A silent lightning storm was raging outside, the noise c

urbed her sleep–a burning pain in her lower back. It was gone as fast as it came. Relieved, she felt a movement inside her and smiled like she did every time she felt t

Tiny cold beads of sweat sprouted on her forehead. How is this possible,

A warm yellowish glow filled the room. It was dim at first, then gradually got stronger. She sat up, sl

a few moments the room's door slid open with a low swooshing noise, like two pieces of cloth

ften called him during the night for a glass of cold water or sometimes just to cha

t another bout of pain, his smile faded and

stand straight away. He asked if she might be mistaken. It was still early. Ela assured him she knew what

y with his warm hands, putting pressure in certain areas to ensure the baby's position within the womb. He asked her to lie back down and prop up her legs, so he could examine her better. It took him

hysician looked at t

ng her everything was going to be fine. Lor joked, saying this was happening because her ba

ew it had to happen, only not this early. She

would ask, had been expecting it from when she was old enough to understand how humans reproduced. They wanted her to be the mother of the new generation of tower people, denizens of a most peculiar f

se of hope in a world where all hope was lost fore

r was seeing it through her eyes. They moved her to another room on the same floor, a colder ro

shamelessly every time the contractions came. The physician w

alleviate the pain. It was too late, and they did not want to risk harming the baby. She would have to give birth the traditional way, as was done in the distant past

o felt the pain and no one else. Thoughts raced in her head,

movements, concentrating, silent. She knew each and every one of them, but with their masks covering their mouths and the caps on their he

attered. She felt nothing, was aware of nothing. Nothing but her pain. The people moving around her were

the need to push with all her might, and push is what she

She heard cries, but they were already distant. She felt light as a feather, moving away, soa

e birth to a boy. Just one child. Then i