Stay with Me

5. Sweet stress.

"Don't make a noise," Alfred told his son. 

"I won't," Joseph whispered back and they walked to the sleeping young lady. Alfred squatted before the desk and gently raised her head with his palm. He wrapped his other hand around her and brought her to his arms where she laid limply. Joseph watched nervously as his father raised her and walked to the bed. He lowered her on the bed and adjusted the duvet. Joseph came over and moved her hair from her face. 

"I'm sleepy too Dad, so I will stay with Mummy," he told his father and climbed the bed, snuggling close to her. 

"Okay. Don't stir her up okay?" Alfred nodded and rubbed Joseph's forehead but the boy held his wrist. "Stay with us Dad. Mummy might be sick and I don't want anything to happen to her," he mattered pleadingly. 

Alfred was quiet as he stared at his son's worried gaze. "Don't worry. I will watch over her," he said and Joseph grinned while tapping the free space. Alfred exhaled and joined them in the bed. Joseph had a mysterious smile and he grabbed his father's hand and placed it on his stomach before reaching out to Safiyya's hand and placing it inside. 

"Hold it there. It does magic," he whispered when he felt Alfred shifting. Alfred squinted his eyes but he still squeezed her little palm. 

"Let's sleep," Joseph beamed and closed his eyes. "KC, turn off the light," 

The lights went dim but Alfred was staring at his wife's face that was illuminated by the blue LED. Her long eyelashes kissed her cheeks, her nose graced her face and her lips were pursed in a thin line. Some strands of hair lay on the side of her face, adding to her beauty. She looked like a sleeping goddess. Staring at this stunning creature and being beside his son made him forget all worldly affairs and sleep soon took him away.  

It was late into the night when Alfred heard the sound of painful moans. His eyes flashed open and he turned to the origin of the sound to see Safiyya turning in her sleep while holding her stomach. He sat up confused about what was happening to her. She suddenly sat up painfully and left the bed, oblivious of someone else in the room. She walked or rather staggered to the wardrobe and took out something before heading to the bathroom. 

Alfred couldn't go back to sleep and sat down waiting for her to return. Safiyya came after a while and sat on the edge of the bed with her head lowered. 

"Ah," she suddenly cried out painfully and slid onto the ground holding her stomach. Alfred stood up quickly and went to her. He went down and peered at her face that was wrapped in pain and she kept muttering 'Inna lillahi was inna ilaihi raajiun'. 

"Hey," Alfred called out worriedly but she was just panting and sweating. 

"Safiyya, what's wrong?" he held her chin and pulled her face downwards. Her green eyes stared at him wearily and she pulled his hand from her face. 

"Leave me alone, I'm going to die," she whined. What now??

Alfred felt her palms were hot, so he quickly checked her neck but it was normal. She holding her stomach, so it was probably stomach ache but what would induce that? 

"Wait here and I'll call the doctor," he said and tried to stand up but she grasped his wrist. "Don't call any doctor, I know what to do," she said weakly. 

"Are you a doctor now?" he scolded but she just snapped, "I said I know what to do! Ouch," she winced in pain again while Alfred was agape at the reaction. Okay, this girl was sick. 

"I'm…going to the kitchen," she mumbled and tried to stand up only to sit back with a twisted face. 

Alfred sighed and pulled her hands up. "Let's go," he said and raised her.