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Do parents normally try to set up their children this obviously?
I looked at her and she smiled tucking her hair behind her ear, not speaking. She got into the University of Rome?
“Ms. Moretti, welcome back to Chicago.” I nodded to her and before she could speak, someone screamed.
“Watch out!” Someone shouted up ahead. I saw the body of man land on the top of a car. The crowd rushed forward. I felt that phone vibrate against my chest. I read the first and only text message I’d gotten from her.
ATTIC NOW. She also texted a map
I turned and looked up at the top of the church. She isn’t…she couldn’t be…no…
YES, IT’S THAT, she replied like she could read my mind….and I hope she could because I was fucking pissed.
Goddamn it, Calliope!
* * *
CALLIOPE - AGE 22
Chicago, Illinois
Sunday, March 10th
“Oh…oh…” I exhaled through my mouth, sitting up against the headboard.
“Breathe. Don’t forget to breathe.” The elder nun, Sister Barbara, sat in front of me and wiped my forehead. Her wrinkled arm held me in place while the other nun, Sister Karen, with a large mole on her chin, spread my legs.
What the fuck do you think I’m doing? I wanted to say, but I held my tongue and instead exhaled through my nose. Soon…fucking soon. “AHH!”
“You’re already crowning?” Sister Karen looked up to me, her blue eyes wide with surprise. “How long have you been in labor?”
“What kind of fucking question is that? Does that matter?” I hollered at her, and Sister Barbara squeezed my arm tighter.
“Now, now. Stay calm.” Sister Barbara gave me her fake smile and she was so motherfucking lucky I was pushing out another human being or I’d be shoving her fat head up Sister Karen’s fat ass!
“On three.”
“THREE!” I screamed, pushing…fuck…and then fell back again.
“Go! Breathe! Just a few more pushes. One, two…”
“AHH!!!” Fuck! ETHAN! Oh, I wanted to kill him too. I was going to kill him. I was going to kill everyone.
“Oh…oh…” I exhaled, leaning back once more.
“Okay, one more! Just one more and she’s here! Just one more.”
I didn’t want to, but I sat back up, feeling as if I was being ripped open. And then I heard it.
“Whaaahhh!” she cried, and I wanted to too. Sister Karen cleaned her gently, looking her over.
“She’s so small,” Sister Barbara said, letting go of me when she moved to let Sister Karen cut the umbilical cord and then wrapped what had to be my heart in a small white blanket.
“Can I hold her?” They both looked at me. “Please, just once.”
The old swamp monster in a habit made a condescending face “It will be easier if you let go cleanly.”
Ethan, where the fuck are you?
