A melody composed of the saddest notes flowed from the piano keys underneath my cold fingers. Emotions stronger than any I had ever felt ran over me like water. I would have never imagined that something I had wanted for so long would hurt so badly. But he was here, with me, and he was staying. That would be enough for now.

All my life I will sing the same song about a red moon.

Maybe one day he would sing it with me.

1.

I stood in the kitchen of the house I owned with my husband and stared at the pile of dirty dishes that had collected over several days. I groaned and rubbed my swollen belly tenderly.

"Oh baby, I wish these dishes would do themselves," I whispered to the quiet. I had always wondered if a child could hear her mother talking when it was still in the womb. I wanted my baby to know my voice, so I always talked to it. Glancing down, I smiled. "I love you, baby."

I looked about ready to pop and I felt like it, too. I had passed my due date a week ago, but still the baby refused to come. My husband, John, was away on a business trip, leaving me alone, worrying the baby would come when he was gone.

With heavy feet, I slowly walked to the kitchen sink, filling it with hot water and soap. My feet ached as I stood waiting for the sink to fill with hot soapy water. Slowly I began to wash the dishes, one by one, with a sponge in the same round-and-round motion. The warm water helped soothe my worries a little, as did the numbing repeated motions of washing dishes. Finally I rinsed all the dishes of soap and set them on the counter on top a towel to dry. Then, cradling my belly, I slowly moved to the bedroom, tired from doing nothing all day. I removed my maternity jeans and shirt and slipped into an old pair of John's sweat pants and an old college sweater. Slipping under the thick comforter, I was thankful I was not pregnant during the summer. Although we lived in Washington State, where it was mostly wet and rainy, the summer held a few hot days in which being nine months pregnant would not have been comfortable. My sore muscles began to relax as I though about my husband.

I remembered the first time I met John. I was teaching a dance class at the gym and he waltzed into the room. Glancing around, embarrassed, he asked me where the showers were. I smiled and told him. After my class, I walked past the registration desk and Amy, one of the girls who worked there, called my name.

"Lisa!" I turned and smiled at the petite girl.

"Hello, Amy."

She produced a small slip of paper and handed it to me. "A man came up here about an hour ago and asked me to hand this to the girl who taught the dance class." I blushed slightly and took the piece of paper. Written on it in small letters was written, "Thanks to you, I found the showers. Let me repay you with dinner?" and a phone number. I smiled at the piece of paper and then up at Amy, who was glancing curiously at me. "Another adoring fan?" She asked.

I simply nodded and laughed. That had been almost 5 years ago now, and I was still in love with the gorgeous man who had accidentally walked into my dance class that day.

I looked over to the other side of the bed. I could see the bright digital letters of his alarm clock across the bed. I imagined him lying next to me, his warm body fitting with mine like a puzzle piece. I imagined the smell of his slightly bronze skin and the way his brown hair falls. I think about the way he likes to grow his hair longer and the way I always insist he cut it shorter to look more professional for his job. I can hear his soft laugh ringing in my ears and his sweet voice as he jokes with me. Strangely, I miss his long hair now.

Every night I look over at his pillow, even though I know he's not there, I feel a sad disappointment fill me when I actually see his side of the bed empty. But tonight, with a small smile, I tell myself that tomorrow night we will be back in bed with me, his beautiful head lying on the pillow next to mine. I had promised John I would meet him in Port Angeles for dinner tomorrow night, and we'd spend the night at a hotel there.

The baby kicking woke me up in the early morning, dim light shining through the curtains. I glanced at my alarm clock: 6:17. I rolled unto my side and curled up around the baby, pressing my hand to see if it will kick again. I feel a gentle nudge against my hand and smile. "Good morning, baby." I was about to close my eyes to try and catch some more sleep when the baby began to kick furiously. I felt the hunger rumbling in my stomach.

I rolled off the bed slowly, holding my swollen belly gingerly. My back ached already and prayed that the baby would come soon, though today it could stay inside. I pulled on my slippers and walked slowly to the kitchen. My hand pressed to my abdomen, I reached for a bowl and the box of cereal. Peeling a banana, I sliced it into my bowl, adding milk and some leftover strawberries. I walked gingerly to the breakfast table and set down my bowl and a mug of coffee. I eagerly sipped the warm fluid and felt the baby kick in response. "You like that? That's coffee, Mommy's favorite drink." I dug my spoon in and ate slowly, savoring every bite. When I was finished, I glanced at the clock on the oven and saw it was almost 7. I stood up slowly, straightening out my legs, and walked to the bedroom, grabbing the only nice skirt I owned that still fit me and a white maternity shirt. I went into the bathroom, placing my clothes on the chair next to the bathtub and placing a towel on top, where I could easily reach it. I looked through the small closet and discovered a fragrance ball for taking bubble baths and decided that a bath was what I needed to relax me and the baby for the long drive ahead. I filled the tub with warm water and watched the ball fizz. The smell of lavender and warm water wafted up to my nose and inhaled deeply. I slid gingerly into the tub, one hand on my belly and the other on the tub edge. Once I was settled, I closed my eyes. Soft, mellow music flowed from the tiny speakers where I had plugged in my MP3 player.

I washed myself carefully, taking great care when shaving my legs. When I had put on my clothes and drained the tub, I walked into the bedroom and collapsed on the bed, exhausted. I felt the muscles in my back slowly unknot. I took a sip of water from the side table and wished that John were here to give me a massage or rub my head.

"Oh John, you really picked the perfect weekend to go away," I whispered sarcastically. I lifted my shirt over my belly and looked at it. I couldn't see my toes, even when I stretched them out as far as possible. My belly was like a mountain. I rubbed it sweetly, smiling. "Even though it'll hurt, I know I'll be so happy to finally get to hold you."

John and I had decided to keep the baby's gender a surprise, but secretly I felt that it would be a boy. Last month, while John was watching a football game, the baby was kicking constantly. I told John it must be a boy, but he had replied with a smile that maybe it was just a girl who was enthusiastic about football. I had rolled my eyes and sat next to him on the couch, while the baby continued to kick. As he felt my tummy, he had said with a glint in his eyes that maybe perhaps it was a boy.

We had made a list of possible baby names, but had decided to wait to decide on a name until we saw him. With a smile I remembered what John had said to me. "What if the baby comes out and we name him Sam, but when we look at him he looks more like a Matt?" Although my parents had insisted we find out what gender the baby was and tell them what we wanted to name it, we hadn't given in.

Being reminded of my parents, I glanced at the clock. 8:45. My mom would be up now. I picked up the phone and dialed her number from memory. It rang twice before she answered.

"Hello, Allisa!"

"Hi, Mom."

"How are ya, honey?"

"Good, good, except my back feels like I'm carrying a hippo around."

My mother laughed, "Well, that's normal when your baby is as stubborn as it's mother."

"Mom," I groaned, but I laughed along with her.

I could almost see my mom roll her eyes. "Honey, you're like a balloon that's about to get popped. One more day and I swear you'll explode. That baby's coming soon!"

I sighed. "I know, Mom," I said. "But I told him to hold off until at least tomorrow. I just want John to be there."

"I know, baby. But you'll both be home tomorrow. And your dad and I will be down there, too."

I smiled, knowing how excited both my mom and dad were for this baby. It was their first grandchild.

"Honey, you're daddy's itching to talk to you." I heard a shuffle as the phone was passed and then my dad's cheery voice filled my ear. "Hello, my sweetest darling! How are you?"

"Good, Dad." I spared him the details of all the aches and pains that came along with any pregnancy.

"Well, good. Me and your mom are going to leave at 3, so we should be there around 4."

"Thanks, daddy. I'll leave the key in the usual spot."

"You won't be there?" I could hear the disappointment in his voice.

"No, John decided we should stay overnight in Port Angeles. We'll be back early tomorrow."

"Okay, baby," he said. Then he added, "You and this baby mean the world to me."

I smiled. "I know, Dad." He said a goodbye and told me he loved me before handing me back to my mother.

"Hello, darling. Your father seems to have forgotten about you not being home tonight, though I've told him a million and one times."

I shook my head, chuckling. "Well, John will be arriving around 4, so I'm heading out around 2. I've washed the sheets and I'll make your bed before I leave."

"Honey! Don't you dare make that bed by yourself! I'll do it when we get there, just leave the sheets on the bed."

"Alright, Mom."

"Alrighty, good. Now, me and your dad are leaving, so I'll call you when we get to your house."

"Yep. Thanks."

"Of course, sweetheart! Love you! Tell Johnny we said hello."

"I will."

"Goodbye."

"Bye, Mom."

I punched the talk button and dialed John's cell phone number next.

"Hello?"

"Hey, baby!" The sound of his voice was the best thing I could have asked for at this moment. I felt safer, even though he was still many miles away. "How was the trip?"

I could hear the smile in his voice as he told me about the meetings. "How are you?"

"I'm feeling okay."

"Have you been relaxing enough?" John had told me over and over again to stop doing something and sit down if I felt too stressed or tired. He always had a way of making me do what he wanted. I smiled inwardly.

"Yes," I mumbled. "Though a nice massage would be good," I said.

"Well, you know I'll give you one tonight." I could hear the smile in his voice. "And tell that baby to hold off on coming out one more day."

"I did," I replied. I didn't want to have this baby without John there.

"Hopefully the baby is as stubborn as you." I could tell he was smiling.

I laughed. "Yeah, we'll see. My mother seems to think so."

"Well, listen, honey. I'm on way to breakfast with the company CEO's before I head to the airport. I'll call you when I land."

"Okay, baby. I love you!"

"Kisses and hugs! Bye!"

There was a soft click and I placed the phone back on the bedside table.

I mindlessly went through the next few hours, doing laundry and cleaning up a little in the nursery. We had painted it a light yellow, with a place above the crib to hang big letters spelling the baby's name.

I packed a bag with overnight clothes for me and outfits for both us for the trip back home tomorrow. It was time to leave, so I locked up the house, making sure all the lights were off except for the small porch light, and stuck the key under the flowerpot by the side of the house. I unlocked the door of my little Honda and slung the bag plus a jack into the passenger seat. With a slow sigh, I sat down in the driver's seat, resting for a minute. When I opened my eyes again, it had begun to drizzle. I groaned and prayed the rain would hold off until I got to town. I put the car in reverse and set off for Port Angeles, turning on the radio to distract me from the throbbing pain in my back. Finally the sky broke and rain poured down. I turned on the windshield wipers. I was about halfway to Port Angeles now, just having driven through Forks. I rubbed my belly gently with one hand, singing to the baby. I had to squint my eyes to see through the rain, which was coming down in sheets now. The baby began to kick and looked down without thinking, speaking soothingly.

The blaring horn came out of nowhere. When I opened my eyes, all I saw were two giant lights staring at me through the pouring rain. I jerked the wheel to the right to get back into my lane, which was absolutely the wrong thing to do. I slammed on the brakes and my Honda went flying. I screamed in horror. The bright lights were below me now, but they belonged to a semi truck. I wouldn't simply fly over what I thought had been a car.

Author's Note: Please review and tell me if you hate/love it! Let me know if you would like to read more!