Precious Baby Girl [An AlYumi Short Story]

"You awake?"

 

Ayumi blinked, the voice somewhat familiar. She couldn't see who it was, but the voice was soothing and gentle, like the ocean against the shores.

"Hey Ayu...it's me."

 

Her eyes couldn't adjust to the bright white light shining directly into her dim blue eyes. She put a small pale hand to her face to try and block it, but it was almost impossible.

 

"Who...who are you?"

 

A sad sigh. "Alphonse. You're talking to Alphonse."

 

Ayumi rested her head against the soft, recently fluffed pillow that had been given to her a few hours ago. She looked around, her eyes heavy and not willing to open all the way. The world outside the dominating lights was nothing but blurs and colours mashed together.

 

"Al...phonse?"

"Yes." His voice was calm and sweet. "Alphonse."

 

She felt like that should relieve her. That, by hearing that name, all sense of fear and doubt should completely melt away. But she felt nothing. In fact, the name didnt even sound familiar.

 

It meant nothing.

 

"I...I don't know..." she began, but her chest hurt and her breath came up short.

 

Why does this hurt so much? Why can't I...

 

Her senses were slow and uneven. She tried to sit up, but her arms felt too heavy and she just couldn't do it.

 

"Where am I? Oh...Alphonse where..."

 

Gentle fingers skimmed along her sunken cheeks and pushed her once fair black hair behind her ear. "There's not alot of time to explain but..." the voice began, sounding hurt and afraid. "Oh Ayumi...I'm so sorry...all of this is my fault."

 

Fault? Who's fault for what?

 

She felt like she wanted to console the person, to tell them it was okay and that they hadn't done anything wrong. But what was she to say? She didn't know this person, or where she was, or how she got here.

 

What am I...who is this...

 

Ayumi lifted her hands up, and when she did they hit the lights in such a way that her arms became two blurred columns of shadows, allowing her vision to slightly adjust.

 

A soft hand push them back down slowly, and to Ayumi's surprise it didnt require much effort at all. It was almost as if her limbs were made of rice paper with the way the floated down so easily. It didn't take much of Alphonse's strength.

 

"You need to rest, Ayumi. Don't strain yourself."

 

Strain myself...?

 

Soft, hot breath graced the tip of her ear as Alphonse leaned down to speak to her. "Im gonna tell you everything I can. Try to listen."

 

Ayumi nodded slowly, for it was now that she noticed just how stiff her neck was.

 

Listen to him...he'll explain everything...

 

Alphonse slipped his arm over her belly so he could grip her forearm. Even now, his touch was familiar. Ayumi knew that somehow, he had done this before. This person was okay. Everything was alright.

 

"I was hoping..." he began, his tone suddenly sad and depressed. "I mean...they said this most likely wouldn't happen but..."

 

She turned her head towards the black and blurred mass that appeared to be Alphonse. Her eyelids remained buoyed about halfway over her eyes, refusing to go any higher. "Wh...what wouldn't happen?" she asked, but now she noticed how wet the inside of her mouth had become. Saliva was building up under her tounge and was threatening to dribble down her lower lip. As she slipped her lips shut, Alphonse ran his fingertips along her forearm quietly.

 

"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly, and it was now clear that he was hurt.

 

Please dont be sad...

 

"I feel strange..." she mumbled as drool slid down her chin. A soft cloth graced her chin to keep her clean. "I feel drugged."

 

"You are, hon." Alphonse spoke slowly. "You're uh, pretty heavily medicated to be honest."

 

Ayumi felt her heart sink.

Oh God.

 

He continued, making re-assuring movements along her body with his hand. Calming movements, movements that her body did not reject, but rather, remembered. From a time that was not so long ago, she thought.

 

"You um...do you remember why we are here?" he asked again after a long and tense silence.

 

"I dont even know where 'here' is, Alphonse. I dont--" More spit, flowing out and halting her speech. As he cleaned her up, she saw his shadow shake it's head in dissapointment.

 

"Hospital, Ayumi. You're in the hospital."

 

Why?

 

A loud and depressed sigh. "You don't remember, do you? Doctors said that might happen..."

 

She looked back up at those bright lights, and once again she drowned in it. Her eyes hurt, but for some reason, she didn't care as much as she knew she should. The light also felt familiar, like she had been her recently.

 

Had she?

She couldn't remember.

 

A low wail could be heard suddenly, but Alphonse jumped, as his hands flew off her body and went somewhere else. She wasn't sure where, she couldn't quite make out solid edges.

 

"Mara..."

 

Mara?

 

He turned back to her, and in a broken child-like voice, he whispered, "Do you hear that, Ayumi? Mara. It's Mara."

 

I...I just...

 

Loud footsteps came in, and a deep drowned out voice began talking to Alphonse. The more the voice spoke, the more Alphonse began to break down in to what Ayumi believed to be tears. The voice's garbled speech halted suddenly, and yet another blurry figure came over and pushed the lights away. It's voice, clear now.

 

"Oh yeah...her eyes and completely relaxed. She's barely reacting to anything I'm doing."

 

Cold rough hands grabbed her forearms, and as they began to shift her over she began to internally panic. Her body longed for Alphonse's familiar touch, and this wasn't it.

 

"Mrs. Elric, can you hear me?"

 

"Mrs."? I'm married? To who? Alphonse?

 

"I..." she throated, but she couldnt go on. Her chest heaved in agony.

 

"Is she...?" Alphonse spoke, but the figure didn't respond. Instead, it pulled out a slim object and slipped it onto her tounge. It was rough and she didn't particularly favour it being in her mouth, but she was starting to wonder just what the purpose of this was.

 

"She's got no gag reflex. Her eyes are starting to film over."

"W-What?!" Alphonse shouted, and in her world of dillusion, his words boomed like thunder.

 

Ayumi wasn't quite sure what was going on, but as the figure backed away so it's speech was once again garbled, she felt her heart seize in fear. What was going to happen to her? Who was Mara? And why was it bad that she wasn't gagging?

 

What...

 

"And Mara? What about her? She can't just..." Alphonse spoke through tears, his voice cracking.

 

More bubbly speech. Alphonse broke down and sobbed loudly.

 

"Ayumi...Ayumi!"

 

She noticed how tired she was becoming, and how easy it seemed to just fall into a vast sleep.

 

Maybe if I rest, I can regain some sense. Figure out just what's going on here.

 

"Ayumi, think about Mara!" he shouted suddenly, and as her paper-thin body began to relax and settle, she started to remember.

 

Oh yeah...thats right. Thats why I'm here. Mara.

Our baby.

I delivered our baby.

 

"Mara..." she started, her once overly-damp tongue suddenly dry and near-cracked. Alphonse once again gripped her arms and sighed heavily. "She was born okay?"

 

A harsh sniffle. "She..she's beautiful. She's got your eyes, yknow? You did such an amazing job, dear..."

 

Thats good.

Oh yes...Alphonse...

 

"Hey Alphonse...she's a good kid, yknow?" she said in her daze. Alphonse was still sobbing, still gripping onto her and holding her tight. "I love you Ayumi," he said a moment later.

 

Love me, he says...do I love him too? I dont...I dont remember...

 

The figure came in, and this time it brought with him a figure she could clearly make out. A precious baby wrapped in a pink and blue bundle. The baby's body glowed against the blurred and black world, in colour and ready to shine. It's eyes were glued shut, and its tiny hands were clentched in sleepy fists.

 

A tear fell from her eye.

Oh, thats my baby...she's beautiful. Oh she's just darling.

 

"D-Do you see her, Ayumi?" Alphonse asked hysterically. "Shes amazing, isnt she?" His black mass took this shining beauty into his arms, and instantly she could see him perfectly. His sweet honey-blonde hair was a mess--out of it's standard ponytail and trailing down his back in knotted clumps. His telling brown eyes were now soot black and looked exhausted. His lips trembled, forcing themselves to form a smile even as his dying wife looked him in the eyes. His shirt was stained with sweat and coffee, and he looked as though he hadn't eaten in awhile.

 

"Y-Yes I see her...she's so precious..." Ayumi spoke, and for the first time she began to feel herself start to sob. The reality of what was going on had finally hit her: she was dying just after her baby girl had been born. Even as she tried to sit up her body was just too tired to keep going. The drugs had hazed her vision, but her family burned brightly and were the only things clearly visible.

 

"I...I love you so much..." she spoke. She wasn't sure who this was exactly directed to, but she had a feeling they understood. Alphonse smiled, and gently gripped Ayumi's hand and brought it to Mara's cheek. 

 

Her skin is so soft...oh my precious baby girl....

 

"She's wonderful Alphonse," she whispered, the tears falling harder. "Simply wonderful..."

 

A sudden pain ran through her chest and ceased her breathing. She seized on the bed, and slowly began to let go. Even as she felt herself slipping away, she continued to keep her gaze on her family. She felt a bright flame of love ignite in her chest. She loved them. And would continue to from wherever she was going.

 

Hopefully. 

Author's Note

I know its sad, but I thought it was also kinda cute D:

Reviews

[Valkyrie Warrior]

What a beautiful and sad story! I love it!!!!

[MadeCheaply]

This is utterly touching! I loved it!

[Emunah June.]

So you no mad that she died? :D