13. A Soul
This winter's morning had been a long, endless, grueling. The minutes and hours passed, snow accumulated on the windowsill of the bedroom, the city was paralyzed again. However, the scene that was played in that little house of Jarvis Street would affect the lives of many people, especially the couple who was there since the sun had risen.
A cry of pain rang again. Julia's nails dug deeper into the mattress of the bed. Once again her head was lost in the soft but soaked pillows. She was short of breath, hair blocking her forehead was wet, her lower lip was almost bleeding due to bite again and again.
-Do ... uou ... see ... the head ... She said exhausted while catching her breath.
-A last effort Julia and he is there, I see his hair, said William between her legs.
She just looked at him, breathing deeply, seeing the blood soak the sheets slide over her legs and hands of William.
-He... would already have ... he...
William met her panicked look and came to her face and speak soon.
-He is not dead, right? Then again one last effort darling. I know you are exhausted, but if you give up now I do not forgive you. Fight, do you hear me?
Julia nodded and William kissed her forehead before returning to his position. She felt her husband's hands on her thighs before he nods again.
-Let's go Julia.
She gathered all her courage and after a last sigh, she pushed with all her strengh in another cry of pain.
-Again, again, he is coming, William launched to encourage her, it is good, still one last effort, one last little effort and I could help you, go to Julia.
She looked at him, pushing one last time, knowing that when William would tell her that the child was fully out, she would vanish as the pain was unbearable.
-I have him, I have him, shot William taking the newborn's shoulders to put him on the sheets.
Julia sighed and prepared to drop one last time when the retail paralyzed on the spot.
-He ... Does not cry, she said with a sigh, he must cry William.
He felt his throat tie watching the little creature before him, who had his eyes closed and remained motionless and silent.
-William, Julia sobbed in trying to sit a little more to see, why he does not cry?
The young man didn't answer, without hesitation, he took the child against him.
-I beg you, I beg you, he murmured, breathe, breathe.
No sooner had he finished his sentence he saw the child open his mouth and a powerful cry escaped. William couldn't help but smile and look up at Julia who was still looking. The tears of the young woman were involved in her sweat, but smiling now barred her face. She then completely relaxed and closed her eyes for a moment.
-Now you have to ... cut the cord. Cut it down and then ... ligature ... cleans his body ... and cover him.
William did and swaddled the child screaming in a clean towel. Then he looked again the young woman who was struggling to stay awake.
-You have to get out ... the placenta ... and ... and ...
She didn't finish her sentence, closing her eyes, unable to fight one more second. Immediately the young man walked away to place the child on the mother's chest. He put his hands in the face of Julia, tenderly stroking her skin. Then, after giving them a last look at them both, he made sure to do what she was told to clean her with a little water, to remove pieces of tissue filled with blood and he covered her with a clean blanket. Finally, he returned to her. He ventured to take her pulse, noticing the paleness of her skin and her breath barely noticeable. He kissed her forehead and tenderly caress before that of the child who had fallen asleep against her.
-Julia fight for yourself, fight-for us, I beg you, he whispered tearfully.
She walked down the corridor of the hospital again. At the bottom of it was a wooden door, which opened as soon as she approached. She was in the room she had seen in her worst nightmares. There was a cradle in the center of the room, just a cot.
Julia approached and leaned over. She saw a baby wrapped in a white sheet. His black hair contrasted with the pristine white all around him, his deep blue eyes watching her intently. She smiled and a moment later a girl appeared on the other side of the cradle.
-He is lovely is he not ? She said softly. He has got the smile of his father and his mother's eyes.
-It is a boy? Julia timidly asked without taking her eyes away from him.
-Yes, it is a boy and he will live.
-But not me, sighed the young woman utting her hand tenderly on the baby's tummy.
-Well, it depends on you.
Julia looked up at her and spoke again.
-Tell me who you are and why you appeared when I got pregnant. Are you a guardian angel for him?
-A guardian angel? Julia Ogden believes in angels? She said, laughing.
-I had met one.
-Oh yes ... William Murdoch.
-William Murdoch, repeated Julia, smiling.
They even exchanged glances before the girl tending her hand over the cot.
-Take my hand Julia, I will show you something.
She hesitated for a second, throwing another look at the child who was in front of her before sliding her hand into Jane's.
Immediately the scene vanished, and they found themselves in a park bathed in sunlight. Julia looked around her to see a couple hugging a little further.
-Peter, murmured the young woman.
-You did not love Peter, do you not?
-I do not know, I was young at that time and I wanted to realize my dreams. Peter came into my life and we do what all young people do.
-But you were pregnant and you do not wanted to give up your dreams.
-I thought I would never be able to get there if I keep this child, Julia sighed without leaving the couple from the eyes, I should have put him in the world and have him adopt, I should have the ...
-Do not regret your actions, cut the girl, if you had given birth to this child, you could not have to abandon him and you know it. There is far too much love in you so that you are able to abandon him. You would have heard their cry, you would cross his eyes and so you could not have you separate him from you. If you had kept this child, you would not ever become Doctor, you have not ever met the Detective Murdoch and never the other child was born.
Julia met her eyes before see a ball hit the foot of Jane who immediately bent down to pick it up. A little boy walked up to them running. She met his blue eyes and she knew his smile at the first second.
-David, it is just time to go, said a man's voice she knew well.
The child gave them a last look and a moment later, he ran off in the opposite direction, disappearing behind a bush.
-You have made William happy, whispered Jane, pressing her hand tenderly, you saved lives, an untold number of lives through your sacrifice. But you still have a life to save.
-Yours.
-We can say it like that, Jane murmured, smiling, are you ready to make another trip with me?
-Would it be the last I have to do?
Jane nodded and shook hands with her again.
The decor was transformed. One bedroom loomed around them. There was a double bed, large windows, a huge wardrobe, a dresser, a nightstand.
-I know this place,murmured the young woman.
She moved away from Jane and approached the bed where there was a young woman of about thirty, her blonde hair waving on the white pillow, her thin lips were hardly pink. She was sleeping.
-Do you remember that day? Jane whispered in her back.
-The day she died, I ... I laid against her and I stuffed my face in her neck to smell her perfume. The rose, she always wore a rose fragrance.
-And it is on this day that you decided to become a Doctor. You wanted to make her proud of her daughter, you wanted to save lives, you wanted to make a difference and create a better world.
-I have not really succeeded.
-She is proud of you, as your father was proud of you, just as I am proud of you.
Julia turned to the girl again and stared into hers before her heart aches in her chest. Jane smiled tenderly.
-You have finally understood, she said in one breath, you finally know who I am.
-If I was saving you, I saving me.
-Because I am you, replied the girl, all your life you got beaten, all your life you wanted someone to come save you, to show you who you were. But there was only one person who could do it, you and you alone. Saved me Julia, saved you.
-How?
-By forgetting the past, leaving your heart swell with happiness and love, being happy. Back at him, and live.
With these words, William appeared smiling. He slowly walked towards them without leaving the eyes of his wife. The girl leaned on Julia's cheek and laid a tender kiss.
-You have become the woman I wanted to be, thank you.
- Are you going to disappear forever then?
-No, of course not, I will always be a part of you, well then someone needs a guardian angel I believe, with a mother like you, he may make foolishness, we know both, she laughs with a glance.
Julia also laughed shyly and nodded.
-Thank you Jane.
-You can call me Jules now, goodbye Julia.
-Goodbye... Jules.
The girl disappeared, as the scenery around Julia. There were only William, still smiling.
-Julia, he whispered tenderly, are you ready to join me?
-I will never leave you again William, she replied, taking the young man's hand.
To be continued...