Prompt#9: Write about Eustace's birth. Bonus if the story is from Harold or Alberta's perspective.

Set in England circa 1933

#Narnia2021

For Adventures of Narnia Forum

The tub is white. The water is warm. And Harold's steady hands are the only things holding you up as the midwife murmurs softly besides you. Then something shifts and unlocks within you; you grip the sides of the tub and the water parts, like that story your sister used to read out loud back when you were close and without a thought that there would be a future apart.

But she's not here, and it matters not the words unsaid between you and her, when the sun is peeking slightly through the blinds to bounce off the water, cascading everything in a dazzling light. One beat, two, passes and suddenly, your son is here, so very small against your palms as the midwife hands him to you. This is the first time you've ever been scared of holding someone as your son whimpers before flailing, as if fighting and trying to bury his way back into you.

Harold's grasp on your shoulders are the only things keeping you afloat, and you swear that his expression must surely mirror yours as you both look down at the precious son you have labored nine months for.

The midwife's gentle question pulls you back from the deep. "What shall his name be?"

There is no hesitation as you reply, "Eustace. Eustace Clarence."

"A good name," the midwife says, and for a moment, you swear that the woman is glowing but that surely cannot be. The sun must be playing tricks with your eyes as the blinds flutter once, twice, before settling to cover up the light that had been filtering through.

The water is slowly losing warmth but you don't feel the loss. You're whole for the first time in a long time, and you cannot imagine that life could be fuller until this moment where the most precious people in the world are in front of you, waiting for you to love them.

A/N:

- So I actually started writing in third person POV from Alberta's perspective and somehow, the story took a mind of its own and just wrote itself in second POV.

- I wonder who the midwife would be.. ^^ hint hint :)

- Hope you enjoy! Please kindly leave a comment~