7: Princess of the Spectrum
Series*
Shiine·etc*
General*
AftertheWedding*
I watched the doctor walk away again from our house by the living room window that evening. Months have already passed since I left Mochi-Mochi Mountain, and I never thought of anything else but the baby's coming, seeing my mother stomach slowly grow bigger and bigger.
Sadness left me as soon as I returned to the house after watching the first sunset with my parents, promising to myself that I would never make them feel bad about having to take me away from my friends. I always faced the day with a wide smile on my face, and went about my usual chores with the same enthusiasm I had back in Miss Dorothy's castle.
My parents and the doctor spoke privately in the dining room while eating dinner. He visited us nightly every weekend, and everytime, I was told to wait someplace else. According to them, children must not be involved with adult matters. I obeyed at once, and without any hard feelings in my heart, I waited for the doctor to leave, and then asked the same question the minute they closed the door. "What did the doctor say, mother?"
"The usual things, dear," she replied. "'Asked about my condition and reminded me the things a mother-to-be must have in mind. The only difference is he told us that the baby would come very soon now."
I was getting impatient with the same news I heard from them everyday. "You just added 'very' to you words."
My father grinned, and considered it a joke. "Very funny, Shiine. I know you're excited about having a sibling with you, but we have to wait. I can't even decide right now who wants to have a baby more badly...you or your mother!"
"Oh no, I don't want to compete with mother. I know she'll be having a hard time when the baby will be born, and I don't want that moment to be any sooner," I answered teasingly too and paused for a short while first before speaking again. "But on second thought, at least the labor pains will be over at once, and I won't be miserable about waiting for the baby anymore..."
"Great." I grumbled guiltily to myself. "It's all my fault mother's having such a hard time right now. Me and my big mouth."
My mother's face twisted in pain as she experienced another contraction early next morning. It was time, all of us thought. My father sent me to fetch the doctor at once. Fortunately, his house wasn't too far away, and I returned with him in no time, together with two other nurses each carrying a bag that contained towels and medical instruments.
The house was filled with chaos, as the doctor continuously called out weird words I haven't heard not read before, the two nurses walking around frantically, and my father pacing outside their bedroom nervously. I was the only one who wasn't moving about, because I was too shocked to move. Everything went on too fast for me to understand.
I buried my face in my hands as I slumped into one of the chairs in the living room. The day came too early. I didn't realize the doctor was literal about these things...and I even added to the trouble by wishing mother would give birth sooner...
"What are you talking about, Shiine?"
I looked up and saw that my father looked a little confused.
"What do you mean?"
"You have nothing to worry about. It's not your fault at all, Shiine. The day of the baby's coming is always unexpected, and most likely to come earlier than the original date. That's what happened to your mother."
The sky suddenly darkened, and threatening clouds covered the whole place. A pounding noise started to deafen me, and a crooked silver line appeared. Drops of rain started to fall, slowly getting heavier and heavier, until they each fell to the ground with a great thud.
"Just great. A storm. When I thought things couldn't get any worse than this, it rains! Isn't this some kind of omen?" I asked worriedly.
"I hope not."
I sat up straight in our chair and snapped fully awake when I heard the child cry. 'Must have fallen asleep for awhile. However, before finding out what was going on, I stopped at the window and noticed the now bright sky. Only a drizzle was between earth and the sun, and I knew that the rain was soon going to stop. A rainbow shone afterwards, and my mouth curved up into a smile.
So, the rain wasn't a bad sign, after all.
I ran upstairs and to the room where my mother was, and went inside. My father sat at the edge of the bed, his eyes wet with tears. A strange glow shone on my mothers' tired face as she looked down at the young infant she was holding in her arms. Although she had just felt great suffering and pain from giving birth, she wore a smile that seemed to last forever, one you couldn't take away from her by any means.
"You have a baby sister, Shiine. Isn't she the most wonderful thing?"
I came closer to them, wanting to find how the she looked like. A few, almost-curly strands of bright blue hair hardly grew on her head. She opened her eyes to see who the person watching her was, and stared at me with big, sapphire-like eyes. Gurgling with delight, she closed her eyes and gave a short yawn.
"Do you have a name for her yet?" my father asked her.
Rainbow...
"Iris." I answered. "She was born as the rain almost disappeared, with the sun coming out just in time to shine its rays through the little droplets that formed the arch of colors also known as the rainbow. Iris means rainbow, I recall."
"Well said, my son. She shall be called Iris then."
As if to agree with us, Iris giggled blissfully.
APotBiB © iced*