Nothing is funny on telly now. I can’t make sense of anything around me; I’m too excited to care about anything else other than my friend.
My cat keeps meowing at me, she knows something has happened. She wants constant petting and reassurance that I am ok. She calms me down.
The words still don’t feel real. Were they really said? Have I fallen asleep or is this really happening?
“Jo! Jo! She’s gone into labour…”
I ring my friend back, we shriek with excitement down the phone to each other. It really is happening.
We debate whether she’s having a boy or a girl. How long will we have to wait before we know?
I make myself a cup of tea to try and calm myself further. I want to carry on ringing my friends to see if they have heard anything, but I know I need to be patient.
I try to keep my mind occupied by tidying, moving my bed is as far as I get!
I move back to the couch with my cat who is still on edge. I am still restless.
This is unbearable, what if this goes on for days? My leg starts to shake again. I get the chorus from my cat.
“Will the baby be healthy? Will my friend be okay?” I’m panicking again. What if something bad has happened!
I try focusing on the big telly in the corner of the room to take my mind off it. All I can see is my friend in pain. Nurses and midwives rushing around her, lots of background noise. I hope she is okay.
I decide to put on my calm, relaxing music. I lean back on my comfortable couch and force my eyes to close. My head still feels like a busy train station; there are so many questions and images flying around I cant get rid of.
I can feel myself relaxing now, slowly my mind is resting. Of course she’s ok, she has her partner and her family there with her. I just can’t wait for her baby to arrive!
…. I have received a voice-mail message on my mobile phone. How could I have missed it! It’s the father. I take a deep breath and put the phone back to my ear…. Beca has had a healthy baby girl.