Chapter 3: No One Noticed

The pain started deep in the night. At first it was just like cramps. Waves. Manageable. I curled up on the narrow bed. Hands clamped over my belly. Cold sweat beaded at my forehead. Snores rolled through the shared ward. A baby cried somewhere. I didn't press the call button. I knew this was just false labor. Then the door slammed open. Harsh hallway light cut in. Fast footsteps. I squinted. Mom. Bearing down on me. She took in the shared ward. Her face twisted. "What are you doing in here? That private room's sitting empty." I had no strength to explain. Just looked at her, hollow. "Hurts." I barely got the word out. Mom didn't hear it. She was already at my nightstand. Already grabbing my canvas tote. "Vanessa. Willow forgot her hospital bag at home. You're in a shared ward now. No point wasting nice things in here. Willow needs these." She yanked the bag open. Pulled out everything. The baby onesies I'd carefully packed. The diapers. The maternity pads. "Willow's skin is sensitive. She can't use the hospital's cheap stuff." She sorted through. Tucked the softest onesies against her chest. I watched her hands. Something carved a wound straight through my chest. "Mom. Those are from Felix. Custom order. A boutique in Paris." My voice shook. Mom's hands paused. She turned to look at me. "We've done everything for you. What's a couple baby clothes?" She swept up the rest, righteous. "Alright. You'll be fine. I need to get back to Willow." She walked out. Pulled the door shut behind her. She never asked. Not once. If I was in pain. I stared at my empty nightstand. And I laughed. Laughed until tears ran down my face. This was my mother. To her, my pain was an act. My hurt was immaturity. Only Willow's needs were real. Only Willow mattered. I wiped my face. Pressed the call button. The nurse rushed in. I looked at her. My voice was calm. "I need to update my medical file. Emergency contacts. Remove my mother and brother. Replace with my husband. Felix Carter." "From this moment on, no one releases my information without my consent. Especially not the people who were just here." The contractions came faster. Harder. Pain drove my teeth into my lip. I gripped the sheets. Felt my nails bending. The woman in the next bed woke up. She leaned over. Saw my white face. Panic hit her eyes. "Oh god. Honey. Are you in labor?" "Why didn't you say anything?" She slammed her hand on my call button. "Nurse! Nurse! We've got a mother in labor over here!" The duty nurse ran in. Lifted my blanket. Her face changed. "Water broke. Get a gurney. Now. Delivery room!" Hands lifted me onto the gurney. We flew down the hallway. Wheels shrieking against the floor in the dead quiet of the night. We passed room 601. The private room. Door wide open. I saw Dad. Mom. Damian. All circled around Willow's bed. Willow was crying. Mom was wiping her forehead. Dad was soothing her. Damian was pacing. The whole family. Around her. No one noticed the gurney rolling past the door. Me on it. Hemorrhaging. Racing toward the OR. "Maternal heart rate dropping. Prep for transfusion!" "Family? Where's the family? We need a signature!" The doctor's voice buzzed somewhere above me. I closed my eyes. Let the darkness swallow me whole.