Chapter One: A Life Changed and Another to Grace the World
Claire was liberated. Not entirely of course, but that would come in time. With the stirring of a new life inside her, Claire felt suddenly aware of her body and self in ways she had not been before. Everything she saw she saw with new eyes, and it was blatantly obvious to her now that every action had a reaction that effected the precious child within her. This meant she had to change. And so Claire ventured beyond her house, where she had hidden, self-exiled, for the past four months. She was terrified, shrinking in on herself as if she could hide her body. It was an unachievable feat. Claire's extra large clothes strained against her now, for instead of continuing to widen in the middle, her midsection was now expanding rapidly outwards. But it was the weight not related to her pregnancy that worried her. The phone call Claire had made last night had been successful; the doctor had assured her she could exercise lightly up to the last month of her pregnancy as long as she didn't experience unwanted symptoms or was assigned to bedrest. With the nagging concern of how being overweight would affect the child, Claire had signed up for a gym membership. She was going to get herself fit.
Claire went every afternoon. It was difficult, but she was not alone- her unborn babe was with her always and the thought of the child's health filled Claire with constant fear. She spent the last of her maternity leave checks on doctor visits, knowing the money was the last she'd ever receive from the Criminal Warehouse. Claire was going to quit her job. It had been one of the first things she thought of after that enlightening night. Her child was not going to have a thief for a mother. Yet the prospect was daunting. She had held the wish to become a master thief ever since Jared had whispered all the things money could buy. Now that want wasn't so strong. In fact, Claire didn't want to steal at all. She didn't know what she wanted. It made her feel lost somehow, but she couldn't face that part of herself. Not yet.
To earn money, Claire spent long hours fishing in secluded coves, delighted at her solitude and also perhaps at the fact that she could fit in an old maternity dress. It used to belong to her frail mother, and its colour, though outrageous, reminded Claire of tropical waters.
Whatever Claire caught was sold and the money put towards a furnished baby room. Indeed, all of Claire's efforts were towards her unborn child, which meant entirely changing herself. On one Sunday afternoon she boldly stood in front of the Salon's reception desk, trembling. The woman lazily looked up and then studied Claire with sharp interest.
"Getting a tattoo, Dear?" The woman smirked.
"No," Claire replied bravely. "I want to cut my hair."
"What hair?" The receptionist's eyebrows shot up as she gazed pointedly at the brown hat pulled over Claire's brow.
"T-this h-hair." Claire pulled the hat off, and the shocked receptionist watched three feet of tangled red locks tumble down from where it had been contained for many years.
Hours later, Claire stood deeply breathing salty air, fishing rod in one hand, the other touching her much shorter hair, which she had pulled up with a clip she found lying around her home. She felt hideously exposed. Although it also felt....right. Claire's lips pulled up in a smile, her hand now moving to her swelling stomach. She had a purpose, and it was the most wonderful feeling in the world.
However, it wasn't always like this. On some days, Claire felt like she was slowly sinking, and on others all she could do was sob heartlessly on her bed, tearing at the metal headboard. She still was afraid to face society, despite what she hoped were improvements to herself. She still hated the person she was inside because she didn't know who that person was. The only thing holding together was her unborn child. Everything else Claire kept running away from including the very fact that she was going to face it someday. But it was not this day. The months of her pregnancy were for healing, for sunshine and the sea and lazy afternoons pouring over pregnancy and baby name books with River McIrish, the only person so far Claire had allowed into her new life. The sweet girl was young, but she accepted Claire in the way she hoped her own child would do so in the future.
The days went by and so did the weeks, then the months. Claire furnished her baby room with her minimal fishing income, but then was restricted by her doctor to remain in the house until the babe was born. Yet her due date came and went, leaving Claire in a slight panic
However, the expecting mother did not have to wait for long. She had been tossing and turning the whole night, frustrated and hurting with an aching back. Claire finally got up and made herself a cup of tea, relaxing in the old rocking chair upstairs, which seemed to curve around her spine in the most comfortable way. Yet she was restless, as was her baby, and Claire winced every time a kick was aimed at her ribs. Eventually she dozed, awaking only with a cry of pain as a contraction rippled through her. For a moment Claire was still with the realization that this was it. She would be meeting her child.
Claire made it to the hospital with time to spare and was settled into a room. She did not have long to wait. Less than two hours later a delicate new cry was heard, sounding more surprised than anything else. Breathing hard, all Claire could utter was a small "Oh!" as her newborn daughter was delivered into her arms, swaddled lightly in pink. There was nothing that could describe that moment for Claire as she gently cradled that baby girl. With her other hand Claire caught one of the baby's waving fists, peering into her daughter's content face and stroking the tiny, soft hand that was finally and really held in hers. "Oh…" she whispered again with a sigh as the tears painted trails down her cheeks. The baby in her arms wiggled and then her breathing deepened into sleep, leaving Claire to gaze at her peaceful expression.
"She's a sweetie," praised a woman's voice, and Claire looked up to see a nurse, waiting to check her over.
"She is," Claire murmured with a swell of pride.
"Have a name picked out, or still searching?"
"I…" Claire blinked, then smiled. "Yes, I do actually. Her name is Emily. Emily Grace Ursine.
As if in response to her christening, Emily stirred and sleepily gurgled, and Claire, though only having met her ten minutes ago, felt as though she had already loved her for a thousand years.
__________________________________
A bit late in coming, but for some reason this was a little hard to write. I'm not sure why, but I do know the hardest part of writing for me is getting started, so hopefully the next bit will come easier and quicker. Anyways, I was shocked and disappointed to find that my computer deleted the few screenshots I took of Claire when Emily was born. I only have one of baby Emily and it's through a window…oh well. As I'm progressing through my game I'm remembering more and more frequently to take screenshots, and hopefully they'll better in quality as well. Thank you for reading!
