PART 8

CHAPTER 8

Susan’s cries echoed through the lab and the dark corridor: the contractions were more powerful each minute and realising that they wouldn’t be over anymore, Monica placed a supportive hand over the teacher’s shoulder.

“Please, help me, Monica! I can’t bear this anymore! It hurts too much!”

“You’ll have your little baby, Susan. And we will help you!”

Andrew stared at his dearest friend with haunted eyes, “Monica...”

“She can’t hold it anymore, Andrew. She is having more contractions and now it’s just a matter of time before this baby is born!”

“God! How are we gonna make it here?”

“We are everything she has now, Andrew.”

The blond angel felt extremely worried about Susan’s condition and how dangerous it could be to have a baby trapped under tons of debris, and he also knew that the teacher’s pregnancy was a risky one. But they had no other choice, it was an emergency and he was suddenly glad to be there and be able to help that woman.

“Yes, you’re right, Monica. We’ll help this child to be born.

*

Outside, the firemen and the police kept the people who watched the rescue away from the building; all of them with anguished faces.

“I don’t know what will be of me without my Susan!” Tom spoke, never taking his eyes from the pile of debris that had just collapsed.

“And my Grace... yesterday we were playing on the computer... She let me win... and now...” Grace’s father spoke, holding his crying wife. Tess stood by their side, trying with all her strength to keep under control the pain she herself was feeling inside her heart.

“It’s not over yet! We must keep praying! We must ask God to take care of them!”

“You saw the building collapse, Tess! How can I possibly expect...”

“It’s not easy for me either, Mr Bale! There are two people I love in there! But... but if I don’t hold onto my faith, then what’s left for me to hold on to?”

“She’s right...” Grace’s mother miserably spoke, “While there’s still hope, we must keep praying!”

The two men joined them and they continued to pray and ask God for the ones inside the school building.

“Father... please, take care of those poor woman and child... but please, I beg you, take care of Andrew and Monica too...” Tess secretly prayed.

*

Inside the lab, Monica placed Susan into the birth position, while Andrew gathered some first aid material and water. He placed a wet cloth on the teacher’s forehead and frowned with concern at the pain that was evident on her face.

“Breathe, Mrs Bale. And trust Monica, she has done it before.”

“The contractions hurt so much!”

“Have in mind they’ll be over soon!” the Irish angel spoke, “Now, Susan, I’ll count to three and I want you to push, ok?”

“The last time I had an ultrasound, the baby was in the wrong position...”

“It was one month ago, Susan. The foetus changes it’s position when the birth date is closer.”

“But it’s my 8^th month pregnancy...”

“Susan, we have no other option, this child has to be born right now!”

“I’ll pray for your baby, Mrs Bale!” Grace spoke, also extremely nervous and worried about the teacher’s condition.

“Oh God! What have I done to deserve this?! Why did God let that happen?” the teacher cried, a mix of pain and despair evident on her face. Hearing that, Monica and Andrew looked at each other and the Irish angel nodded her head.

Then, she looked back at the teacher and reached out to take her hand, “Susan...”

Immediately, Susan felt her contractions and the pain diminish.

“What’s happening?” she asked, confused with that sudden change. Then, she looked at Monica and Andrew and what seemed impossible happened: a beautiful glow involved the couple who had been helping her all that time. There were no more injuries on their skin and they had a comforting and reassuring expression on their faces.

“Monica? Andrew?”

“We are angels.” Monica announced.

Susan was still confused, “Angels?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve come to help us! That’s why you’re here!” Grace exclaimed, with astonishment.

Andrew smiled at the girl’s surprised and hopeful face, “Yes, that’s it, Grace. God sent us to help you, Susan and the baby in this difficult hour.”

“But... I don’t understand... If you’re angels, how come you’re both hurt and suffering with pain the same way Grace and I are?”

“We come to earth in this form to help the ones who need. And, in human form, we are exposed to the same risks and dangers another human being is. But don’t let your thoughts confuse you. God’s will is powerful, Susan. And it’s always perfect, as He never makes mistakes.” Andrew explained.

“We’re here to accomplish it, to let His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven, because whatever comes out of it, I can assure you, is always beautiful.” Monica added.

“But why is this all happening with us? Why me? Isn’t it enough that I’ve already suffered so much? I was starting to believe He really existed when my pain went away, but now...”

Monica squeezed the teacher’s hand, “Susan, believing in God when everything is going well in our lives and when we’re feeling happy and have everything we want is very easy. But believing in Him through difficult times, when the world is falling apart and everybody seems to be turning their back on you... that is a real demonstration of faith.”

With some tears in her eyes, Susan nodded her head, finally understanding what the angels were trying to say, “God is always good...” she repeated Monica’s words, the same words the Irish angel had told her a month earlier.

“Yes, He is. He never abandon’s His children and right now, He wants to help you and this little child, but, for that, you need to have faith and trust your lives to Him.”

“If... If God sent you two here... Then I can’t deny the evidence He’s been watching over me all this time... I know this birth is not gonna be easy, but, yes, I trust you’ll do your best!”

*

Outside, the firemen returned to work, after being sure there wouldn’t be another collapsing. The man who was coordinating the search stared at the wreckage of the building with frustration on his face, “God... keep their souls with You...” he prayed, secretly feeling his hope vanish at the view of destruction before him.

“You don’t hold much hope, do you?” another fireman asked.

“I’ve seen things like this happen before... Look at all this... How can a person survive this?” the other man nodded.

“Yes, it’s difficult. But I believe you’ve seen miracles happen too...”

“Yes, I have. And that’s why I continue to do this job.”

*

The dirty basement floor was filled with Susan’s cries. Two hours had passed since she had started to feel the contractions and, so far, her suffering and struggle to give birth hadn’t produced any result.

“Please, Susan, you have to push harder!” Monica insisted, she and Andrew back to their human forms. The Irish angel was trying to ignore her own pain in order to help the poor woman and the baby, as she knew that Susan’s pain was even greater than hers.

“I’m trying, Monica!” the teacher replied, catching her breath. The conditions of the place didn’t help either: it was hot and stuffy; besides, there was dirt and dust spread all around them. Andrew wiped Susan’s forehead once more, fearing that he would have to take her and the baby Home if anything went wrong.

“Father, please, help us...” he secretly prayed.

“Another contraction!...” the woman cried.

“I’ll count to three and you have to push harder, ok?” Seeing her nod, Monica continued to talk, “One... two... three!”

Using all her strength, Susan pushed harder than before and, a second later, a smile appeared on Monica’s face, “It’s coming! It’s coming, Susan! Your baby is on the way!”

“Oh God... please, help me...” she said, with tears rolling down her face, and trembling body.

Grace watched her teacher’s suffering with her small hands conjoined.

“Please, please, help Mrs Bale and the baby...” she prayed, in a low voice. Andrew voice interrupted her prayers.

“Grace, bring more water, please!”

She obeyed his command immediately and, while Susan recovered from her last effort, Monica continued to speak words of encouragement, “Keep on, Susan, you’re doing great! I need you to push once more!”

“OK...”

One more cry of pain filled the air a second later and the angels and Grace thought that she would pass out. But, all of a sudden, another cry echoed inside the destroyed room and, with a broad smile upon her face, Monica held a small baby in her arms, “You’ve done it, Susan! Your baby is here!” she exclaimed, with tears of joy in her eyes, “And it’s a beautiful little girl! It’s a beautiful little baby girl!”

Her happiness was shared by Andrew, Grace and Susan, despite the exhaustion she was feeling.

“Oh, thank you God...” the teacher murmured, while Monica cut the baby’s umbilical cord.