Chapter 23
23
RAVEN
The one where words mean nothing and actions are long gone…
8 Months Later
I was dying.
I always imagined it differently, that I would be taken too soon from this world by way of violence—not by way of life and beauty.
She hadn’t cried yet, why wasn’t she crying?
“Ace?”
“One more push,” he whispered against my sweaty neck.
I was in too much pain and yet not even a part of my own body as I weakly nodded my head.
“She wants to meet you, desperately.”
I wronged him.
In so many ways.
Maybe this would be the one right thing I did, the last gift.
“She’s losing too much blood.” It was Sergio’s voice I think.
After two days of labor they’d finally let him in, and he was pissed they’d let it go on this long.
“Options?” someone said.
“Emergency C-section,” someone else said.
Ace never left my side.
Everything happened too fast; I wasn’t in my body or was I?
Suddenly a cry erupted through the room.
It was loud, just like me.
“Good job, Raven. Good job.” Ace was either sweating as much as I was or he was crying, his face was wet against my cheek.
“She’s perfect.”
“I’m sorry.” I choked out a cry.
“I’m sorry for everything I know I keep saying.” My vision blurred.
“You know I-l?—”
“Do something!” Ace yelled.
Was that Ace?
Alarms went off or was it a clock beeping?
The pain was gone.
I was dying, wasn’t I?
The pain left.
My only regrets were not seeing my little girl grow up—and not telling Ace De Lange I’d bought him waffle mix.