She stood in the hallway of an old house, swallowed by time and oblivion. Fog enveloped every wall, every window, and a shadow, like an invisible hand, stretched forward, absorbing the light and air. In this secluded place there was a smell of dampness - the smell that appears only in those houses where no human foot has stepped for many years, where the walls remember only the rustle of stagnant air and the echo of long-forgotten steps.
She walked along the corridor, and her steps, as if drowning in a dead silence, disturbed its heavy calm. The wallpaper on the walls was peeling off in places, as if trying to free itself from the burden of time. There was no life here, but there was something else - something invisible that hovered in the air, giving no rest.
Suddenly her gaze fell on a small figure at the end of the hallway. A girl. A strange girl with long black hair that touched the floor, forming a dark cloud, creeping and unnoticeable. She did not look back, her steps sounded clear as a heartbeat, breaking the sacred silence that enveloped the house. She moved quickly, but strangely, as if her body was not aware of what was happening, and her mind did not have time to follow her movements.
She froze, unable to tear her eyes away. Her heart was beating faster, but she couldn't move. Something was wrong. Something alien and cold about this house, this hallway, this girl. Every step she took seemed to increase the anxiety - the farther she went, the more intense the tension became, as if the darkness itself was following her, growing with every move she made.
The girl disappeared, melting into one of the corners, as if she had never been there. But with her disappearance the silence did not subside. On the contrary, it thickened, becoming more and more dense and unbearable. Then she heard a strange grinding sound behind her, as if something dead and heavy, which should have remained motionless, was slowly crawling along the old tree.
She looked around and saw nothing. Dark walls, a floor that seemed to absorb light and sound, and the air that was growing heavier, like water flooding the space. She tried to move, but her steps were slow, as if the air around her was thickening, becoming viscous and unyielding.
The hallway began to change. The walls, as if alive, slowly narrowed, approaching her, making her feel like she herself was becoming a part of this old, ominous place. Everything around her was becoming a part of something much darker than just a forgotten building. Her body seemed to merge with this space engulfed in darkness, and her mind could not understand where the house ended and she began.
And then, when the walls were almost touching her, when the darkness covered her head, she woke up. She sat up in bed, breathing heavily, as if she had just escaped from the water. The dark walls, the old corridor and the girl with long black hair disappeared, dissolving like fog at dawn.
She looked around.
Soft light filtered through the curtains, filling the morning room with coziness and warmth. On the bedside table, the alarm clock ticked quietly, showing 9:00. Her gaze briefly ran over the calendar that hung next to the bed. It read: May 18. The day was clear and serene, the air light and calm. Everything seemed familiar and customary.
Her heart was still beating a little faster, but not from fear anymore. She ran her hands over her face and tried to clear her head. A dream. It was just a dream. But why did it leave such a strange heaviness in her chest, a strange feeling of unease that seemed to not go away?
Her husband, Ryan, was sleeping peacefully next to her. He was lying on his side, a small smile on his lips, his face relaxed, his breathing even and calm. He looked peaceful, as always, in his morning hours. Her gaze couldn't help but linger on his dark hair, slightly tousled, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes that added a little age to him, despite his forty-five years.
She turned to him, trying to figure out how much of what she had experienced was real and how much was just a nightmare. He opened his eyes, noticing her gaze, and smiled softly.
"You're awake," he said, his voice warm and slightly sleepy. "Did you have a strange dream? You seem... anxious."
She sighed, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream. This dream was so real that everything that was happening now seemed like a continuation of the same world - the same frightening space.
"Yes," she answered, trying to smile to hide her confusion. "Just... a strange dream."
"I admit," Ryan said, stretching and hugging her, "I've woken up from bad dreams too, sometimes. But you know I'm always here if something's wrong."
She felt his warm breath and his strong embrace. This was Ryan, the same man she had spent the last few years with. This comfort, this moment, it was all real. Everything was in its place.
But despite this, she couldn't shake the feeling that something invisible had remained with her, like a slight trace of a nightmare. The girl. That corridor. The darkness that had squeezed her until it had swallowed her.
"I'm fine," she said, hiding her gaze so he wouldn't notice her worry. "I'm just a little nervous about work."
Ryan nodded, not delving into her words, and continued to hug her tenderly.
Ryan's warm embrace reassured her, and despite the anxiety from the night before, she felt that this day would be special. She snuggled into his chest, breathing in the familiar scent of his body, a mixture of freshness and slightly sleep-deprived. Time seemed to slow down. She felt his hands sliding over her stomach, and despite the anxiety, a quiet joy blossomed in her chest.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft and soothing, and he peered into her face as if trying to understand something important.
She smiled, trying to hide her uncertainty.
"Everything is fine. I'm just a little tired these last few weeks. But overall, it's fine."
Ryan ran his hand over her belly, carefully, as if he was afraid of damaging something fragile. Even though she was in her last month of pregnancy, he knew how she worried about every pain, every movement, because every day could be the one - the day she met their child.
"You already feel that it's close, right?" His voice was almost a whisper, as if he was talking about something very important and delicate. "You know that this day could be... our day."
She nodded, but inside she didn't trust her feelings. Expectations, worries and anxieties prevented her from believing that this would soon become reality.
"Yeah... I think so," she felt her stomach tighten slightly and a slight worry appeared on her face. "He moves a lot, but... he's not ready yet, I don't think."
Ryan smiled and placed his hand on her stomach, his palm warm and confident.
"I think you're ready," he said, smiling, but his gaze became serious. "We're both ready."
Her heart sank at his words. He had always been there, always supporting her, but at this moment, in this waiting, her own sense of uncertainty and anxiety seemed too strong.
"You know," Ryan continued, his voice softening, "I've been thinking about a name... about what we'll call him. Or her. You've decided, haven't you?"
She looked at him in surprise. In the last few weeks, everything had been focused on preparing for the birth, and the name had not been discussed in as much detail as before.
"I... don't know," she said with a slight smile. "I've been thinking about it all the time, but I can't choose."
Ryan thought for a moment, then continued with genuine interest.
"I remember you always wanted to name her Delia if it was a girl... or maybe Deedle? I always thought that would be a beautiful name."
She looked at him with gratitude and surprise. He remembered. He remembered her dreams and hopes, despite all her doubts and worries.
"Yes, Delia..." she whispered, stroking her belly. "I like that name. Delia... or maybe just Deedle."
Ryan smiled and leaned down, kissing her forehead.
"Delia... that's wonderful," he said. "But if it's a boy, we still have time to think about it."
A warm feeling filled her chest. Ryan was there, and in that simple moment, despite all the worries and nightmares, she realized that it didn't matter what happened next. All the fears and doubts couldn't overshadow what was happening now. The name they chose would be a symbol of a new life.
She chuckled and turned to Ryan.
"You want to pick a name for a boy, and I'm already telling you it's a girl," she winked. "It seems like we can't agree."
He laughed and hugged her tighter.
"We'll agree," he replied. "But whatever name you choose, I'm sure it will be perfect."
She thought again how important that name would be, how it would ring in their home. Delia or Diddle, day or night-it was all so close that it seemed that today their lives would change forever.
And so, at that moment, when she felt the baby move inside her again, she realized that despite the anxiety, the nightmares, and any worries, this day would be the beginning of something new, something amazing. And she was ready to meet it.
Ryan pulled back slightly, looking at her with an expression that was both thoughtful and slightly playful. He seemed to be considering something, and there was a soft, almost touching urgency in his eyes.
"You know, I wanted to tell you something," he began, his voice quieter, as if he were trying to create an atmosphere of privacy to share something important. "It's something nice... something I've been carrying around inside me for a long time.
She looked at him, not understanding what exactly he wanted to say, but at the same time a pleasant excitement began to grow in her chest. She expected to hear something significant, maybe a declaration of love, or a word that she had been waiting for so long in those moments when her heart was filled with mixed feelings - expectation and anxiety.
But then something unexpected interrupted him.
At first she felt a slight pain. A quick discharge, like lightning, ran across her stomach. She frowned, trying to figure out what it was. She thought maybe she had just pulled a muscle, but the pain didn't go away, it only got worse.
"Ryan," she cried out, and his face changed instantly.
"What?" His eyes widened in fear. "Are you okay?"
But the pain continued to torment her. Each wave felt stronger, and she grabbed his hand sharply.
"This... this is wrong!" she said through clenched teeth, trying not to panic.
Ryan instantly grabbed her by the shoulders, holding her tightly so that she wouldn't lose her composure.
"You're okay, everything's going to be okay," he said, but there was tension in his voice. His eyes darted around the room, and she could see his calm beginning to crack. "You know it could be…" His words trailed off, as if he had realized what had happened.
"Contractions," she whispered. "Ryan, contractions..."
He did not hesitate. His face became firm and determined. He knew that the time had come. Instantly jumping up, he began to act, without losing a second.
"I'm calling an ambulance, don't worry, you're safe!" he said, clutching the phone, trying to concentrate. His voice was tense, but there was a firmness to it - he knew he had to act fast.
"An ambulance? Yes, we're in labor. Please, quickly, my wife is in her last month, contractions have started. Yes, I understand, thank you!"
His fingers quickly dialed the number, but she could no longer focus on his words. The pain was intensifying, and her body was rising helplessly, as if trying to escape from the pain, but she could not move.
"Please be patient," he said, sitting down next to her and holding her hand tightly. "I'm here, you're not alone. We'll cope, you're strong."
She tried to hold back her screams, but a new wave of pain washed over her again, and she exhaled, breathing with difficulty from the weight of what was happening. It was as if her body did not obey, but everything was clear in her head - she could not understand how it all happened so quickly. Only yesterday they discussed the name, and today...
"Hold on, hold on," Ryan repeated, his voice soft and soothing, but she could feel his nerves tense, his heart pounding in his chest.
The ambulance was on its way and he knew there was no time to panic. Everything would be okay, he needed to keep going and she needed to hold on and not let fear take hold of her.
Every moment the pain grew stronger, and she felt her confidence slipping away. She knew it was so close, that their lives were about to change, but in this struggle with pain, anxiety and ignorance, she wanted only one thing - for him to be near, for him to hold her hand, like now.
And he held on. Ryan didn't let her go for a second.
The ambulance arrived quickly, as promised. Ryan felt his heart sink as the white-coated doctors hurried into the room. There was a confidence in their movements that gave him at least a modicum of peace.
"Don't worry, we'll handle it," one of the paramedics said, helping her out of the bed and carefully placing her on the stretcher. She glanced sideways at Ryan, trying to smile, but her face was pale with pain. Every now and then she squeezed his hand, as if it was the only way to stay in reality, in the world where she felt him near.
Ryan followed them, his eyes never leaving her. He was there, he wasn't going to let her go, even if it meant going through anything in the world. Every moment was important, every breath was critical. The contractions confirmed that the baby was about to be born.
"I'm with you, I'm with you," he whispered, trying to stay calm as she was carried into the ambulance.
The ambulance doors slammed shut and they sped out into the early morning silence of the city, racing through empty streets. The outside world continued its normal pace, but inside the ambulance, time seemed to slow down. Ryan sat next to her, holding her hand and helping her breathe in time. The doctor next to them was discussing something with the paramedic, but all this conversation was meaningless. There was nothing more important than her condition, than the moment when they had to survive to the hospital and meet their baby.
Her breathing became heavier and heavier, the contractions came in short intervals, and she felt her body absorbing the unbearable pain. With each new wave she wanted to scream, but she held back, looking to Ryan's eyes for support.
"You're strong," he said, looking at her. "You can do it, I'm with you. We're with you, baby."
She nodded, but her eyes were closing more and more often from exhaustion and pain. The pain was all-consuming, as if her body was fighting something much larger than itself. Time and space disappeared, and all that was left was a turbulent flood of sensations.
The ambulance sped along the roads, and for a moment Ryan felt his hands sweat and his throat tighten. He was always afraid that he wouldn't have the strength to support her in moments like these, but she remained steadfast, as always. He didn't know what she was thinking, but he could see how tightly she squeezed his hand, as if it was the only thing that connected her to this world.
"We're almost there," one of the paramedics said quietly as they pulled up to the hospital. Ryan looked at him, and his heart slowed again. Everything was going to be okay; this was the last leg of the journey.
The ambulance turned onto the main street and pulled up to the hospital doors. Ryan barely had time to exhale when the doors opened and the doctors, like professionals, began to move quickly, lifting her onto a stretcher and into the building.
"Hold on," Ryan said, taking her hand firmly again. "We're almost there."
She looked at him with eyes full of pain and weariness, but there was gratitude and determination in her gaze. She knew that they were about to see their child, that this moment was close. The pain no longer seemed so terrible when the thought flashed through her mind that this was the end of the road, and their lives would soon change.
As they walked into the delivery room, she felt her heart fill with anticipation, even though the pain was still there. Ryan was there. Everything was okay. This day would begin a new chapter in their lives.
Ryan, who had barely entered the room, saw the nurses starting to prepare the necessary equipment and check the devices. He squeezed her hand, trying to stay close, but he knew that now he had to step back.
"I'll stay outside the door," he said, his voice shaking slightly with excitement. "You hold on, I'll be waiting. You know I'm here."
Her eyes met his, full of fatigue and pain, but she only nodded. There was such determination in her eyes that Ryan couldn't help but admire her resilience. Despite all the pain and hardships, she remained incredibly strong.
"You can handle it," he repeated, carefully letting go of her hand and walking out the door.
Ryan's footsteps were muffled in the quiet hallway. He stopped at the door, leaned against it, lowered his head, trying to collect his thoughts. He knew that now was the most important thing. He had to be strong, like her.
The whole situation-the pain, the anticipation, the fear-felt both terrifying and incredibly important. When he'd become a father, when he and Asia had become a family, he couldn't have imagined what he would feel in moments like these. But now that she was in the room, about to go into labor, his heart was overflowing with love for her, fear for her, and fear for their child.
"I wish it was a boy," he whispered, running his hand over his face. He thought back to their conversations about choosing a name for the baby. Delia, Diddle, the girl she wanted so much. But maybe it would be a boy after all? They didn't know for sure, and those last minutes of tense anticipation were almost unbearable.
But he couldn't afford to worry. He had to wait. It was best for her, for their little miracle that was about to be born.
Ryan went to the door again and listened. He could hear someone in the room talking to Asia, the doctor giving her instructions. He knew that everything was at stake now – not just his life, but their life together, which would begin right now, at this moment.
"Come on, baby, come on, hold on," he whispered, his words fading into the empty hallway. But they were important to him. It was his way of holding her, even if she couldn't hear him.
The minutes dragged on, each moment seeming like an eternity. Ryan stood by the door, leaning against the cold metal, unable to take his eyes off the room. He knew she needed his support. He was prepared for any outcome. But inside, despite all the worries and fears, there was still this vague, warm feeling: "I wish it were a boy!"
He looked again at the door he had been leaning against for so long, and hope flared up in his heart. It wasn't just hope that they would be able to go through the birth, but hope that everything would be as they had dreamed. At that moment, it seemed to him that his heart was beating in time with her breathing, with her efforts.
And then, when that long-awaited moment came, when their son's cry broke the silence, Ryan felt everything inside him tighten, and then explode with relief. He felt the air fill with a new, pure meaning. The child was here. He was alive, he was theirs. This was their son.
The nurse handed the baby into his mother's arms, and Ryan couldn't help but smile as she held him close, the same light that was in his reflected in her eyes and in her voice as she whispered,
"Boy, Ryan..."
He felt his heart fill with incredible, indescribable joy. He reached out to her and touched her hand. Their son was with them. All the pain and fatigue that had seemed insurmountable had disappeared. He stood next to them, holding the little boy in their arms.
"What shall we name him?" he asked, his voice trembling with happiness.
She looked at the baby, then at him, and said with a gentle smile:
"We'll call him... Alexander. Xander. Happy birthday, my boy, my baby."
Tears of happiness welled up in Ryan's eyes. He was about to repeat her words when her gaze met his and he realized he had one important word left.
"Asia..." his voice became quieter, full of gratitude and love. "Happy birthday to you! You gave me everything I could ever dream of."
She smiled, and her heart filled with endless gratitude. With each passing moment, this day became more and more special. Alexander's birthday, the day she, Asia, experienced a miracle again, and the day their family became complete.
"Happy birthday, Asia, happy birthday, my love!"