Everything else was very much a blur. Upon my arrival home, I found an old tube of sleeping pills and took a few of those. And when that didn't work, I sat on our bench on the roof and drank a few glasses of wine to wash down the pills. Finally, in my drunken stupor, I was able to distinguish a feeling of lightheadedness overwhelmed by a drowsy feeling. I remember collecting some money and putting on my hat. I remember looking back at the edge of the roof and seeing me and Cara as children. She wore a normal house dress and very meticulously pinned up hair. I then looked at the bench and saw us there as well, young and happy. When I walked down to the streets, I saw us at the corner, sharing a quick, discreet kiss. I saw us taking a walk down to the court park. I saw us in the window of the bookstore, silently reading as I stole a few loving glances her way. In every age and every place, I saw us there together. We were in cars, on the streets, in every shop we've ever been. When the world began to go dark, I swear I saw an adult version of us, leaning over me in concern. I woke up to the familiar, soothing sounds of our family doctor, taking care of my family.
"I see you're alive, after all, Edward." Carlisle said jokingly. Edward wiped his forehead and stood. The hospital room was small and had small storks painted on the white walls in a straight row. He looked down and found himself to be wearing a white shirt and white trousers.
"What happened?"
"You fainted when Cara started to go into labour."
"Labour?"
"Doctor Cullen says it was a short one so it's okay that you missed it." Cara said stroking his hand. He looked down at her. Besides the fact that her hair caked with sweat and her face a little red from exhaustion, she was the picture of health.
"A lot of fathers will faint. This is why the women are in charge of the delivery." Carlisle said playfully with his back turned. Edward took his place beside Cara and held her hand, kissing it gently, "Well, Cara, Edward. You have a beautiful, healthy baby boy." He smiled happily as he wrapped the baby and handed him to a stunned Edward.
"Cara… he looks just like you." Edward looked at his son with pure joy, examining his hands and feet to be sure he has the right amount of fingers and toes.
"But he has your eyes." Cara said, smiling as she looked at her child, "Wow…"
"Wow is right. Seven and a half pounds, eighteen inches on the nose." He turned his back to them, turning the water on. "Have you thought of what to name him?" Carlisle asked as he cleaned his hands in the sink.
"I have," Cara said sleepily, "I've thought a lot of how much you've helped us, not only this past year but throughout both our lives." She paused as Edward gently handed her the baby. She gasped in amazement, wrapping the blanket a little closer to him. "I wanted to meet him first, but I was pretty sure of my decision..." she looked down at the baby, then up at Edward, then at Carlisle, "We are so grateful to you and we've always respected and loved you so much." She took a breath and looked at the baby again. "We will call him Carlisle. And every time we see him, we'll think of you and what you've done for us."
Carlisle looked from Cara to Edward, a smile slowly creeping onto his face. He laughed shortly, amazed, holding back a tear, "thank you... so much."
"It's a perfect name, my darling." Edward smiled as he kissed his son's head, "Carlisle." He smiled and walked over to his doctor and hugged him in an appreciative, masculine way.
This is the clearest memory I have of 1918… But then, I woke up on a cot, in pain and without my beautiful family. Next to me was a paper cup, half empty. The pain and heat was too unbearable to reach for it. I heard a scream somewhere in the distance that sounded like my Cara but before I could weakly protest I heard a scream of my own and a searing pain shot through my bloodstream.
I never realized how much I lost until that moment.
...
I added this chapter to highlight a little known symptom of this disease which was hallucinations. Often, patients who were alive long enough to give accounts of their experience spoke of strange occurrences where they saw family members who were dead or would talk to people who were not present at the time. It was a heart-wrenching time in the world when the Influenza happened and I don't believe that Stephanie Meyers really touched on that. Anyway, the seven point five pounds, eighteen inches thing, that is the exact measurements of a perfectly healthy baby with five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot. And of course, Carlisle comes to their rescue and delivers their baby (although its all a dream). There's white imagery for purity and happiness, I also wanted the reader to picture this glow about everyone's face-a real haven atmosphere, eh? Hope you enjoyed it, cheers!