~Her Gift~

~~


The woman was young, fair
and alone.
she made her way though,
the empty streets.

Beads of sweat ,
formed on her brow.
And at last she could,
travel no further.

~

An ancient-looking man touched,
her kindly on the shoulder.
"Do you need a place to stay?"
he asked politely.

Moaning helplessly,
a spasm of pain gripped her again.
She tiredly motioned towards,
her full belly.

Deyrk shouted attendance,
as she crumpled in a heap.
Quickly ordering preparations,
of the spare guest room.

Through a nourishing broth,
the doctor was called.
Deyrk quietly noticed,
no wedding ring.

After mental deliberation,
he moved over to a dresser,
and pulled out a thin
golden band.

"This will dispel
questions others might have."
Lily nodded gratefully,
as another spasm hit her.

~

The doctor checked,
her pulse and heartbeat
and performed several other
cursory exams.

Finally he turned,
"She is indeed at full term
and should get to a hospital
as soon as possible."

"But there is no time,"
Deyrk exclaimed,
"if she's due any moment!
The nearest hospital is an hour away!"

"Very well then,
I could tend to it myself.
I'll just have to get,
the necessary equipment."

"I can assist!"
"No, I'll be just fine."
Deyrk hemmed and hawed
"well, I'll leave you to it... then?"

"Mr. Stan if you please.
concentration is needed.
I haven't much time.
Perhaps there is work,
you could tend in your study.

~

Not more then twenty minutes had passed,
when there was a violent pounding on the door.

~

Deyrk dropped his pen,
and jumped up
anxiously calling "Come in!"
while running to the door.

Doctor James stood before him,
looking considerably more
disheveled and agitated
then minutes before.

"What happened to her?!"
Deyrk asked, walking quickly.
"It's too late, I'm already
starting to fade.
it's my mentality to do
when a patient...."

Not wanting the last word,
Deyrk ran the last steps
to the spare room
and burst it open.

The lying figure,
was heaving for breath
with her small infant,
in her arms.

"You've been so good to me."
as her last words
But he read her thoughts and said
"I will cherish."

"Love and protect,
your newborn babe.
Tend and raise,
as you would have wished."

Lily smiled peacefully,
her mind set at ease.
And drifted away with,
her infant's cry in her ears.

~

Deyrk had not taken his eyes,
off the baby in his arms.
It's head was round,
and skin perfectly smooth.

A light layer of fair fuzz,
streaked around his small head.
"My child," Deyrk murmured
"I shall name you Ryan."

His eyes fell again,
on the motionless woman.
Her golden hair lay in,
matted ringlets over the pillow.

He lay down the babe,
picking up Lily's limp hand.
Sadly sliding off the gold ring,
she had worn
for so short a time.

~~