chapter 22
Hate
The doctor's voice was calm and reassuring as he explained the situation to Mark and Liam. "Liam's contractions are too intense, and the babies are in distress. We need to perform an emergency C-section to ensure their safety."
Mark's heart skipped a beat as he looked at Liam, who was clutching his hand tightly. Liam's eyes were wide with fear, but Mark could see the trust in them. He nodded, trying to reassure Liam that everything would be okay.
The medical team quickly sprang into action, prepping Liam for the surgery. Mark was given a pair of scrubs to wear, and he followed the doctors into the operating room.
As the surgery began, Mark held Liam's hand, talking softly to him to try and calm him down. Liam's eyes were fixed on Mark's face, and Mark could see the pain and fear in them.
But as the doctors worked to deliver the babies, Mark could feel Liam's grip on his hand tightening. He looked up to see the doctors holding up two tiny, squirming babies.
"They're here, Liam," Mark whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. "Our babies are here."
Liam's eyes locked onto the babies, and a weak smile spread across his face. Mark could see the exhaustion and pain in his eyes, but he also saw a glimmer of joy.
As the doctors handed the babies to the nurses, who quickly began to clean and swaddle them, Mark felt a sense of relief wash over him. They had made it through the worst of it. Liam and the babies were safe.
Mark could see that his husband was still in pain. The C-section had been a success, but Liam still had a long road to recovery ahead of him.
Mark squeezed Liam's hand gently. "You did it, baby," he whispered. "You're a mama."
Liam's smile grew a little stronger, and he looked up at Mark with tears in his eyes. "Yes I did it, Mark," he whispered back. "We're parents."
The babies were carefully placed in special incubators, designed to provide them with the warmth, oxygen, and care they needed to thrive. Mark and Liam watched anxiously as the medical team worked to stabilize the twins' vital signs.
One of the doctors, a kind-faced neonatologist, came over to explain the situation to Mark and Liam. "The babies are doing well, considering they're a month early," she said. "We'll need to keep them in the NICU for a while to monitor their progress, but we're optimistic about their chances."
Mark and Liam exchanged a relieved glance. They knew that the next few weeks would be a rollercoaster of emotions, but for now, they were just grateful that their babies were safe.
As they watched, the medical team began to attach tiny monitors and sensors to the babies' tiny bodies. Mark and Liam were amazed by the tiny fingers and toes, the delicate features and the soft, downy hair.
"What are their names?" the doctor asked, smiling.
Mark and Liam looked at each other, and then back at the doctor. "We haven't decided yet," Mark said. "We were thinking of waiting until they're a bit bigger."
The doctor nodded. "That's perfectly fine. You have plenty of time to decide. For now, let's just focus on getting them healthy and strong."
As the doctor walked away, Mark turned to Liam and smiled. "We did it, Liam. We're parents."
Liam smiled back, his eyes shining with tears. "We sure are, Mark. We sure are."