Emily, think a hundred times before you sign that consent to give up your baby. Afterwards itll be too late, I warned her.
I cant leave him, you have to understandI cant, she sobbed.
All the staff at StGeorges maternity ward were watching the young mother, seeing how torn she was, wondering if anyone could sway her.
Do you realise my father raised me with an iron fist? Since I was a child he kept telling me never, God forbid, to bring a child into the bottomdrawer. How could I tell him this happened? He still thinks Im in university, studying for a profession. Ive been at home for six months because of the pregnancy, and Ive been lying.
One day life throws you a curveball, hell shout, scold, and then hell take your little lad as his own grandson its the continuation of the family line.
No, you dont know my father. Hes ruthlessly strict. If Mother were alive shed understand.
Emilys tears fell like knives. The childs father immediately declared he was washing his hands of the baby. Emily had believed his words were sincere, which made the blow even sharper. She didnt go through with an abortion; the result was a healthy, chubbycheeked boy.
Her mother had died when Emily was in Year6. A car crash claimed her while she was travelling with work colleagues. Everyone survived except Emily. Her life split into before and after. Her father, as if freed from a chain, poured all his pain and anger at the unfairness of life onto his daughter.
Emily, listen, he thundered, if you ever bring a bottomdrawer child into this house Ill throw you out. Theres no shame in our family for that. Study, become a doctor, be respectable.
Dad, theres no bottomdrawerIm still young, Im doing well in school, I dont want to disappoint you, she pleaded.
She left school with a gold medal, entered medical school just as her parents had wanted, and only came home a few times a year. Father would cook his famous roast potatoes and ask about her studies, always slipping in the warning about the bottomdrawer.
What he feared came true. In her second year she met a lad at a college dance. She didnt realise shed fallen in love; he was her first boyfriend. She imagined walking down the aisle in a white dress, her father beaming with pride at his beautiful, clever daughtertobebride. But the boy dumped her and her wedding dreams fluttered away like dandelion fluff.
Her labour was straightforward, but the new mother found it impossible to look at the infant. She announced she would sign the consent to give him up. When she saw his tiny, wrinkled face, her heart shivered. She had carried him for nine months; now she was ready to hand him over.
Three other mothers with babies shared the ward. Emily turned her back to the wall, refusing to watch them feed their children. She never fed her own, despite the nurses gentle coaxing, hoping she might change her mind.
The consent was signed. No pleading swayed her. She hurriedly packed her things and left the hospital in silence, clutching her paperwork. The midwives watched the little boyAndrew, they called him among themselveswith sorrow.
Little one, youre all alone now. Your mothers gone. Who knows what fate awaits you? Most likely youll end up in a good family; theyre quick to take in such infants.
Andrew fell quiet, his tiny nose twitching as if listening. Nurse Nadine Thompson sang softly and fed the abandoned child, remembering almost every infant that had been left behind. Occasionally a mother returned, but it was rare.
That night Andrew, as if understanding hed been rejected, wailed loudly. The baby refused his bottle. Nadine barely slept; Andrew would briefly nap, reluctantly take a sip of formula, then resume his cries. By dawn he calmed, becoming limp and indifferent.
Ah, child, you call for your mother, but shes gone, she left you, she whispered.
During the morning round, Emily burst into the ward.
Where is he? He hasnt been handed over yet? I want him back!
Emily, youre back? Thank heavens! Andrew is still with us; we havent transferred his papers. Are you sure about this? Its not a toy, you know.
No, Im absolutely sure! Hes my sonI could never abandon him!
Emily began to sob.
I havent slept a wink, hearing his cries all night. My heart nearly tore apart. My little boy is here alone, without a mother. Let me feed him; the milk is ready.
They moved Emily to a separate room and brought the baby. She cradled him; he started babbling loudly. The staff at the door cheered, relieved that the child would not share the fate of a castaway.
I talked to my father, confessed that I gave birth and left the child because of him. I told him I cant live without my baby and I want him back. He was shocked at first, then said hed like to see his grandson, called me a fool, not a mother, scolded me for not telling him. All my life Ive heard never have a child out of wedlock. Yet my own father wept with joy Ill take my son, well go meet Granddad, Ill give him a middle name and a surname.
The whole ward watched the fragile figure of mother and child disappear through the window. May God grant them happiness.
How often do parents frighten girls from childhood with the words, If you bring a bottomdrawer child into this house, youll be thrown out! How many young women have aborted or given up newborns because of that. How many lives of women and children have been scarred. Moral lessons matter, but girls need to know their parents love them and will accept themno husband, pregnant, bottomdrawer or not.
Be loved and be happy.
