Backslide

The snow fell softly outside Max's window and brushed the streaks from the smeared windowpane. She was surprised to see it snowing so early in the year. Yet, it still was the winter season, and snow could come. But snow meant cold and therefore, hot showers were mandatory.

Her hair was longer and fell in curls down around her shoulder bones. The hot mug of cocoa she clasped between her fingers brought steam up about her face, causing a warm blush to creep across her lightly tanned skin. Sipping the cup again, Max wondered when the snow would stop so she could see what was going on outside. Probably nothing. Nothing was all that had happened for so very long, and Max yearned for some excitement in her life.

Rising to her feet, Max stretched, placing her hands on her hips and cracking slightly as she bent backwards. Walking over to rinse out her cocoa mug, she found her feet becoming tangled in an undone shoelace. She bent down stiffly, trying to reach over her belly that had grown rather large, and attempted to tie her shoe. As she was doing so, she suddenly felt a warm wetness spread over the back of her pants. In horror, Max jerked upright, landing back on the couch. The coffee mug dropped to the floor fortunately covered with a rug, dripping the brown liquid out onto it. Max clutched a trembling hand to her stomach. It was time.

By the time Original Cindy got home from work, Max was already seated in her own bed under the covers, gasping and sweating. "Max! What's wrong?" Cindy yelled as she hurried into the bedroom.

"Nothing unusual, I'm fine," Max panted.

"Nothin' wrong? You want Original Cindy to get a docta or somethang?"

Max shook her head vigorously, causing her dark curls that were already matted down with sweat to fly like limp noodles. "Just go, please…everything will be…" she paused as another contraction hit her. She bit down on her lip and waited for it to subside. "Everything will be alright, I can assure you of that."

"You want Original Cindy's help?"

"I don't know how much you can help," Max replied. Suddenly, she stopped talking and grimaced. Her throat constricted as she tried to swallow. Trembling, as she pushed against the pain, Original Cindy hurried out to the kitchen to grab a towel or something that may have been some help to Max.

Just as she had grabbed an armload of towels and was bending down to pick up a fallen one, Cindy heard the wailing shriek of a baby. Upon instinct, the towels flew to the floor, and she hurried into the bedroom.

There, lying with a red face, Max sat in bed, clutching a bright cherry baby in her arms. The baby's light hair was plastered about its tiny face and there were tiny traces of blood on it. Screaming, the baby thrashed its arms against Max as she gently wrapped it up in the bed sheets.

Cindy stepped forward, wanting to see the baby. It was so perfect, so utterly perfect and beautiful. Kneeling by the side of the bed, she looked up at her friend who had grown so mature in a matter of minutes. "You did it," she said with a smile.

Max returned the smile. "Yeah, I guess you're right." She looked down at the baby. "I can't believe…I don't know what to say. I mean, it's like seeing a part of me, y'know?"

"I guess so. Is it a boy or a girl?"

"A girl. She looks an awful lot like…" Max began, but shook her head, not wanting to continue. Cindy knew what Max was going to say. The baby did look bear a terrible resemblance to Zack, but yet, he had done absolutely nothing for the past nine months. Max turned to Cindy. "Could you get the phone, please?"