**Lucas**

  Around six o'clock she woke me up. "Luuk." That was all she said. Her face contorted in pain. She was panting. So this was a contraction. I didn't know what to do for a moment. When the second one came after just ten minutes, autopilot kicked in.

  "Come on, we're going to the hospital," I said, helping her up. At the front door her water broke. "We need to hurry, come on."

  I got her in the car and started driving. I must have driven too fast because I was completely nervous myself. On the way I called my parents, my little brother and Peter. After a stressful ride we finally arrived at the hospital.

  I helped her out of the car. "Calm down, Lucas!" she snapped at me softly. But before we entered the hospital, she grabbed my arm to ride out a contraction. "It's just contractions," she said. But I couldn't calm down.

  The hospital lobby was busy. At the front desk there were a few people in a line that seemed to move far too slow to me. "She's having contractions!" I shouted in mild panic. "Help us please" Sophia put her hand on mine. "Calm down, Lucas," she said. But I couldn't calm down.

  "Good morning, can I help you?" said the receptionist. When I wanted to answer, Sophia grabbed me again. "I already see how I can help," said the clerk and pressed a button. Within a few seconds a nurse came walking with a wheelchair.

  "Come on, sit down," said the nurse. She seemed far too calm in my perception. Sophia took my hand as the nurse took us to the maternity ward. She was helped onto a bed by the nurse, with that same calm.

  "The doctor will come check on you soon," she said and left. I sat down next to her. Every few minutes she panted through another contraction. I felt completely powerless. I could do almost nothing. I couldn't take away the pain. I could only be there for her and make her as comfortable as possible.

  The room smelled of disinfectant. And it was sterile white. With beds in the corners and curtains from the ceiling. I heard her pant through another contraction. "I'm going to get you something to drink," I said, stroking her sweat-damp hair.

  I walked into the lobby to get her something tastier than water. As soon as I entered the lobby, I looked into the curious eyes of my family. "And?" my mother asked. I said nothing, I walked to the vending machine and got something for her.

  "Is something wrong, my boy?" my mother asked, coming to stand next to the machine. "I can't do anything, mom. She's in hellish pain but I can't do anything." She put her hand on my shoulder. "That's not true. You can be there for her. Show her you're there. That's very powerful."

  "I can only get drinks. Hold her hand and talk to her, mom. I can't take away the pain." My mother nodded. "It's hard, my boy, I know. But doing those things for her already helps her a lot. Come on, boy, hang in there a bit longer."

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  I nodded and walked back to the delivery room. Meanwhile the doctor was there. Finally, in my feeling. "Ah, the father," he said smiling and completely calm. This frustrated me. My one true love was in hellish pain. And he could stay calm.

  "Well, 10 cm. It won't be long now," he said and smiled kindly. "I'm going to do a quick round and I'll be right back," he said. The nurse who had brought us here came back in. She sat down on an empty chair.

  After a few minutes another contraction came. Suddenly the nurse stood up and was next to Sophia in a flash. "Okay, this is a pushing contraction. It’s time. Sir, support her. I'll be back in a minute," she said. It was overwhelming. I sat down next to her and took her hand. I didn't know what else I could do.

  After a few seconds the door opened and the doctor and the nurse came in. "Faster than expected," said the doctor smiling. He sat at her legs. "On the next contraction you can push along," said the doctor.

  Sophia nodded. And just a few seconds later her breathing hitched and she leaned forward with her upper body. "Good, Mrs. De Witte, push!" shouted the doctor. After a few seconds she fell back against the pillows. Breathing heavy.

  I got a washcloth from the nurse. "Make it a bit easier for her," she said kindly. I didn't understand how that could even be possible. But I wiped her forehead. She looked at me with a smile. A minute later she shot forward again. The nurse came closer on the other side. "Yes, good, keep pushing," she said. This repeated three times. "Yes, rest for a bit," said the woman.

  Sophia fell back again, breathing heavily. I wiped her forehead again. She looked at me again, breathing heavily. "She's doing great," said the doctor. "I see the head. I think one or two more good pushes."

  Sophia nodded and seemed to take a little more rest. A minute later she started pushing again. The nurse encouraged her again. She fell back into the pillows one more time. She seemed more exhausted by the minute. Less than a minute later she started pushing again.

  After this she fell back into the pillows again. She seemed relieved for three seconds or so. The nurse had my baby in her hands. I hadn't heard any crying yet, the woman seemed to be checking my child. But suddenly everything went wrong. I looked back at Sophia. The sheets filled with blood. Sophia turned chalk white. Her eyes rolled back. "Birth canal haemorrhage !" shouted the doctor. And he pressed a button. "Sophia!" I shouted. Panic built in my chest. A bunch of nurses came running in. The doctor shouted something else. And then I was pushed into the hallway.

  I must have screamed enormously. "LUCAS!" I suddenly heard my mother call. "Calm down now!" I looked at her. "Take it easy, my boy, what's wrong?" I looked wildly around. "Lucas!" my mother called. "Blood. Blood everywhere. Baby didn't cry," I managed to say.

  "Is something wrong with the baby?" my mother asked. I shook my head. I didn't know anymore. "Luuk, look at me," I heard Jonas say. "Try to calm down. Whatever it is, everyone is in good hands." He pushed me onto a chair. "You've got everyone a bit rattled now. Tell us calmly what happened," he said.

  I tried to breathe. "Good." My mother knelt down beside me. "What's really going on?" she asked calmly. "Everything seemed fine. The baby is here. I hear nothing.no crying.And when I looked back to ask if the baby was okay, the whole bed is covered in blood and Sophia passes out. Doctor yells. And suddenly I'm in the hallway." I looked at my mother. "What if I lose them both," I said. I felt tears streaming down my cheeks. Was my greatest fear now becoming reality?