Lucy Bronzes POV:
Around 40 minutes had passed since Keira had received the epidural, but nothing seemed to have changed. In fact her pain was only escalating. Currently, she was laying sideways on the hospital bed, holding onto the railing, with me laying behind her massaging her back. Her cries intensified, so she was sobbing now. I felt helpless. It was such an awful feeling. 'Oh Keira im so sorry.'I whisper sympathetically, stressing out myself. 'Please make it stop.' She cries, bouncing her leg up and down. 'I cant do this.' She continues. I was getting frustrated now, not with Keira, but the fact shes been made to have an injection to relieve her pain but its done jack shit. 'We'll give it 10 minutes, if nothings changed ill call for a doctor. Just hang in there, okay? Your doing great baby.' I try to comfort her but i dont think its working. She lifts one hand up as if she's searching for mine, so i give her it. My arm is now wrapped around her body, that is trembling like theres no tomorrow, and my hand is going numb. But i didnt care. This wasnt even a fraction of the pain Keira was experiencing, so if she needed to squeeze my hand then she could do so. The pain seemed to have subsided. as her grip on my hand got lighter, yet her body was still trembling. 'Are you cold?' I ask her, pulling her hair away from her face. 'A bit.' She mumbles weakly, exhausted from the days events. 'I can get you a blanket?' I suggest, but that idea is cut off immediately. 'No- please dont go. Please.' She begs, getting worked up again. 'Okay okay, i wont get up. I wont leave you.' I reassure her. Ive never seen her this worked up before, i wasnt sure how to react, but i was doing my best. 'Why isnt it working?' She asks, sounding scared that she'd have to deal with this pain but more intense as the hours went on. 'Im not sure Kei, keep using the gas and air and ill call for someone in a minute. I might have to leave the room though, is that okay?' I ask, frightened to leave her by herself. 'Mhm' she mutters, her grip on my hand tightening again, signalling the pain had returned once again.
10 minutes had passed; and still nothing had changed. I couldnt bare to watch her pain any longer, so i took the initiative to go and find a nurse. 'Keira, im going to go and get a doctor, will you be okay?' I ask her. I mean i knew she wouldnt be okay, shes in active labour, but i just needed the reassurance. 'Yeah, go.' She replies, so i kiss her head and carefully climb out of the bed so i dont cause anymore discomfort. I then get the blanket from our hospital bag and place it over her, remembering she was cold earlier. 'Thank you.' She jitters, her teeth chattering. 'No need to thank me, ill be back as quick as i can.' I whisper, then swiftly exit the room. My body is full of adrenaline, and i rush to the front desk of the maternity ward. Im met with an older looking woman, who looks like she'd rather be anywhere than where she is. But i have no other option. 'Excuse me?' I say impatiently, resting my elbows on the counter. 'What can i do for you?' She says rather abruptly, but i choose to ignore her callous tone. 'It's my girlfriend, she was given the epidural around 50 minutes ago but the pain only seems to be getting unbearable, is there anything you can do?' I ramble, wanting to get back to my girlfriend. 'No.' She replies. Is that it? Is she fucking having me on? 'No?' I question, shocked at her lack of sympathy. 'Some women just reject the medicine, it happens. She will just have to deal with the pain like many women do.' What the fuck. Surely she was taking the piss. 'I beg your pardon?' I say, absolutely baffed. 'What?' She says, acting clueless as to why i was so enraged. 'Aren't you a doctor? Do you show no sympathy towards your patients?' I say, anger taking over me, i couldve carried on but i was interrupted by Tilly, and who gently pulled me to the side. 'Ive just been in to check on Keira, she's asking for you. I know about the situation, and as much as i hate to say it theres not much else i can do, i wish there was. Im so sorry about my colleague, shes never been the nicest but shes been here too long to get fired. Go and see Keira and ill have a word with Margaret.' She smiles, looking genuinely sorry that she cant help. 'Thank you, just if theres anything you can think of please come, shes really not dealing with the pain well.' I smile, turning fast on my feet and heading straight back to Keira.
Walking back into the room, Keira was in the same position as when i left her. I really didnt want to have to break the bad news to her, scared of how she'd react, but its better it came from me than some random nurse. Im assuming she heard my footsteps, as she said 'Lucy please tell me they said it will get better soon. Please.' My heart was breaking. I walk around to kneel infront of her, and place my hands ontop of hers. 'Im so sorry, they said there's not much that they can do baby.' I say, causing her to cover her face with one of her hands. 'Please tell me your joking.' She mumbles, dread evident in her tone. 'I wish i was, ive asked them to let me know if there's anything they can do. Im so sorry. If I could take the pain away I would.' I reply, placing a hand on her cheek. 'Fuck sake' she whispers, beginning to cry harder. 'Im sorry Kei.' I repeat for the millionth time, my tone sullen. She brings a hand to my face and rests it on my cheek, similar to how i did just seconds ago. 'Its not your fault, thank you for being here.' She replies. 'No where else i'd rather be.' I smile back at her. 'Can you get back in bed?' She asks, vulnerability in her words. I dont say anything and resume my old position, bringing my hands to her back again. 'I know it might seem impossible but try and get some sleep baby, if you cant you cant but it doesnt hurt to try.' I suggest, knowing it was a long shot. 'I dont think thats going to work, but ill try. You should get some sleep too Luce.' She whispers. This girl is in the worst pain imaginable and she's still thinking about me. 'Keira im not-' however im interrupted before i can finish my refusal. 'Shut up and go to sleep, you can barely keep your eyes open. Ill be okay, i promise. Ill wake you up if its too much. But id rather you be awake when our child arrives than half asleep.' She manages so say, before another round of pain takes control of her body. Was she delirious? She must be. If she thinks I can sleep knowing shes in pain she's delusional. All of a sudden, she begins to laugh, which confuses me massively. 'Whats so funny?' I ask, playfulness in my tone. She only laughs louder, holding the gas and air in one hand and using her other to cover her mouth. Oh. I see whats happening. Someones used too much of the gas and air. 'Lucy you've gotta try this' she cackles, actual tears rolling down her face from how much she was laughing. Honestly, i didnt care if she was buzzed off the gas and air, as long as she was smiling i didnt care what it took. 'Alright, hand it over.' I say, giving into her antics. Gotta admit, it did feel weird. She reaches over for her phone and takes a video of me using the gas and air, her in absolute hysterics. 'Oh thats too funny, im sending that to our parents.' She says, a genuine smile on her face. 'Feeling better?' I ask, hoping that she's in less pain than she was before hand. 'Yeah, i am actually.' She says, pressing send on the video. 'Im glad, maybe you can get some sleep now?' I suggest again, wanting her to get some rest. 'Maybe, ill use the gas and air as an oxygen mask and probably collapse from the buzz, which actually sounds fucking brilliant.' She begins to laugh again. Perhaps the epidural had began to kick in, because this was a complete shift in attitude from her. As long as she was comfortable, i was happy. 'Ummmm maybe not, but try and get atleast an hour of sleep Kei. You need it.' I say sincerely, maybe ruining her fun slightly. 'Fine. Only if you go to sleep as well.' She replies, which is a fair deal. The day was taking its toll on me, and my eyelids where beginning to feel heavy. 'Okay, but promise me you will wake me up if you need me, it doesn't matter for what.' I compromise, not wanting to miss out on anything. 'I promise.'
And with that i wait until her breath's even out, continuing to apply light pressure to her hips to ease the tension, until im certain shes asleep and i can join her in slumber.
Authors note:
- soz for the cliffhanger last time LMFAO. still more parts to comeee. might not be an update tomo as im going to see louis tomlinson but ill try my besttt 🫶🏼
