Logs:It Isn't Fair

It Isn't Fair
RL Date: 15 September, 2009
Who: Delifa, Madilla
Involves: High Reaches Weyr
Type: Vignette
What: Madilla feels too much.
Where: Infirmary, High Reaches Weyr
When: Day 5, Month 10, Turn 20 (Interval 10)

Mentions: Delvana/Mentions




Though still a good six or more weeks off full-term, Journeyman Healer Delifa went into labour late in the afternoon on the fourth day of month ten, after a problematic and difficult pregnancy. It was over a day later that news began to spread that she and bluerider L'van were the parents of a little girl they have named Delvana. Sadly, however, her twin sister, Eliva, whose presence was a surprise to everyone, did not made it. Mother and remaining daughter will likely spend some time in the infirmary before being able to go home, but the healers are confident that all will eventually be well. Though it had been two full days and more since she'd slept more than snatches, here and there, Madilla couldn't sleep, when it was all over. She stayed in the infirmary, sitting for a time beside Delifa, whose drug-enduced sleep left her so still and silent Madilla kept wanting to check just to make sure that she was still breathing. Later, she went to look in on the baby, the surviving one, whose tiny body was dwarfed by the blankets they'd wrapped her in, so small it barely seemed possible that she could live at all. She checked in on L'van, too, who'd finally sacked out on the couch in Delifa's office; he looked wan, and there were tear stains down his face, and Madilla ached to be able to comfort him somehow. She'd promised to help him with the other baby, when he woke up: to bathe her, and dress her, all ready for him to take her between. That was a duty she didn't envy him. She had no idea if the babies had names. It was something she and Delifa had spoken of, over the months, but if a decision had been made, she'd not been told. Besides, no doubt they'd not been prepared to need two names: it had never been picked up, never even hinted at, that she might have been carrying two. Eventually, she found herself wandering the infirmary aimlessly. It was late, now, and there weren't many other patients staying overnight; those that were, were fast asleep, and the healer on duty was keeping herself busy in her office. She straightened the blanket on one of the empty cots, and refolded clean linens in the cupboard. She tidied the medicine shelves, alphaetizing in the dim glow light until she felt a hand on her shoulder. The other healer looked down at her, shaking her head. "Go and sleep, Madilla. There's no need for you to stay here." "I don't know if I can," admitted the apprentice, feeling her eyes fill with tears for the first time. "It isn't fair." The other healer crouched, reaching out to take her hand. "Since when is life ever fair? You know that, Madilla. Delifa's going to be all right, and so's her little girl; we'll do everything we can to make sure of that. They'll have the best of care - we'll all make sure of that. That's all we can do." "She never even got the chance to live." Madilla knew she was being silly. She'd seen babies die before. Sometimes at birth, sometimes later. It was simply part of life; sometimes, they never even knew why. "No. But we can make sure her sister, does. And her mother. We have to look after the living; that's our job." Madilla swallowed, and finally, she nodded. "Come on, Madilla. We'll have some tea, and then you should go and sleep." She led the apprentice away, the shelf still half-tidied. Madilla wiped her eyes, and followed.

Logs:It Isn't Fair

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