And Baby Makes Two-Version Two

As the clock neared 5 a.m. it was obvious that I was not going to sleep until well after day break; Ella was entering the world. I had been up the whole night and as daylight slowly stretched across the sky I found myself exhausted, but unable to sleep.

My friend was giving birth to her new daughter and since we had recently become as close as biological sisters, I considered this baby girl to be my niece. As I sat outside her room my mind tangled around our journey to this hospital. My friend had told me that she was pregnant five months before she gave birth. I was excited as any friend would be, but something struck me as odd. The oddity was that my friend abandoned all of her friends, including me, many years ago and disappeared into the bay area.

During those five months leading up to the birth that she chose to communicate with me I was aware that she needed a friend, someone to trust. All of her friends, including me, had lost touch with her. We had tried to call her, but her phone remained unanswered.

The announcement of her pregnancy struck my heart and I spontaneously asked her if I could plan the baby shower. When I asked her if I could plan the shower I heard her voice quiver through the phone, but I thought little of it.

I held the shower in San Jose where she lived, but when I arrived at her apartment I found myself in utter shock. I was afraid and unsure about whether or not I should leave my car and make my way to apartment number she had given to me. I cautiously opened my door and made my way to her apartment. The apartment, coated with the constricting and stagnant smell of cat urine mixed with aerosol air spray, was small and unfurnished. My friend was alone and I understood that she needed help.

The baby shower was supposed to begin at noon, but no one arrived. As we sat eating cake that I made for the occasion talking about the past, I found myself admiring her spirit. I admired my friend because nothing seemed to bring her down even when she shared her deepest hardships. She asked me to return and I told her that I would be tied up with school, but would make time.

My friend called me 3 weeks ago and told me she was in labor. I arrived to the San Jose hospital close to 9 p.m. With each scream my head snapped to look towards the hallway and her room. Then there was silence. The silence began to grow and I started to get nervous.

Then I heard a new cry, a tiny cry. Ella Irene was born. When I was allowed to walk into the room and hold Ella I was honored. The first thing I noticed when I glanced at the little girl in my arms was that she was beautiful and had the same brown hair and blue eyes as her mother.

I remember that when I glanced around her recovery room I found it eerie that there were no presents, or balloons – she was just another young, single mother. She will have a difficult journey ahead of her.

The event of my friend giving birth has taught me the value of friendship and courage. I watched my friend grow in maturity in the short five months that I spent with her. Though I am not Ella’s true related Aunt, I believe that I will be something deeper.