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Acoustic Fishes

Page 11

by Michael Vu


  Then suddenly, Elizabeth felt a rush of liquid rush from her chest to her throat. She vomited all over the kitchen floor. She was too dizzy to make it to the bathroom. Her body disobeyed her and was lethargic.

  She checked in at the hospital. They ran a few tests, asked many questions, and then left Elizabeth in a waiting room while the doctor was making rounds. She sat on the bed impatiently.

  A female doctor walked in. She was a woman in her late fifties, but could easily pass for her forties. She had long black hair, small brown eyes, and a rather small build. Elizabeth was a tower compared to her.

  “Well Elizabeth,” the doctor paused and looked down at her clipboard. “Elizabeth, do you still go by Mrs. Little?”

  “No, I’ve recently changed it to Spence.”

  “Very well Mrs. Spence,” said the doctor looking into her eyes cheerfully. “You are with a child. Congratulations.”

  Elizabeth nearly fainted. The color in her cheeks ran out. She nearly vomited again, but was able to contain the matter in her mouth. She swallowed it back down.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, very sure. Congratulations again Mrs. Spence.”

  Elizabeth loved the way that name sounded in her ears.

  She picked up her things, and left the hospital. She informed her employers her situation; they then encouraged her to take the week off to sort matters.

  Elizabeth spent the rest of the evening in a cheerful mood. The idea of rearing Noah’s child comforted her. It made her feel less lonely. Though she could not be with him any longer, she was able in some way keep his presence alive by bringing into this world a piece of his existence.

  In her mind swirled all kinds of plans. She played around with names for a boy or girl. Elizabeth planned to shop the next day immediately for the baby. She was all too excited and could not rest.

  After dinner, Elizabeth decided to go for a late night stroll. She roamed the neighborhood and followed the same routes Noah and her once walked. He never ceased far from her thoughts. She still loved him dearly, and concluded that her affection for him would remain for the rest of waking her life. She felt grateful and proceeded to rub her belly gently.

  As Elizabeth thought about all this, she considered another matter as she walked through the quiet neighborhood. She planned to be healthier now that she was in command of two persons. She considered proper meals to eat and set a number of hours to sleep each night.

  But then an odd thing occurred to Elizabeth.

  “That’s funny,” she said to herself as she crossed the street, “I haven’t slept in days.”

 


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