Prodigy

Birth

Another memory took hold and for a moment she was swept up into sensations that were not her own. Once again, she was in the womb, but this was different. The pressure was wrong. Her mother’s stomach was pushing her down, out of the home she had always known. No! I won’t go! She rotated her body across the tube and threw her arms and legs out as far as they could go.

She could hear excited voices outside the cocoon that had always held her. Sister, if anyone could stay in the womb, you could. It isn’t safe. You could hurt your mother. Besides, they can cut you out. A calm voice said within her mind. It’s not safe…they aren’t like me…they can’t understand. You have those who understand you. She protested.

The pressure to turn her increased. The voices were getting more agitated. She could feel the pain in her mother getting worse. She didn’t wish to hurt her. She reached out, feeling the emotions in her mother and in the being she knew to be her father. She could feel love and concern…maybe she would be okay. With a final act of defiance, she turned herself against the pressure, trying to turn her and lined up head-first with the tube.

The next few moments were the most uncomfortable of her life. Her body was pressed into a tube too small for it, but she timed the pressure her mother pressed on her and would kick, helping her flow down.

Cold suddenly caressed the top of her head, then light…blinding light. Strong hands caught her, then the tube that had given her food and air was closed. She panicked, she had no air. Something hit her on her backside and she sucked in air, then let it out in an indigent cry.

The memory faded a minute and this time Kate spoke to her father. “Can you remember any of this?” She asked.

“I could never forget the birth of my daughter, and yes, for a while you fought hard not to come. I also remember the previous time. We were in the cabin. I carried your mother a quarter of a mile, because we always walked to the cabin. She was about six and a half months pregnant..” He replied.

Kate looked at her. “I thought children had no memories in the womb or for some time after.”

She shrugged. “It would appear we are wrong or that you are unique, likely both. It seems many things that I believed were simply wrong.”

Kate smiled sweetly. “Don’t jump to conclusions. I am a priestess, but even I doubt that the gods are divine. It is complex.”

“If not gods, what are they?” Adrian asked.

Kate sighed. “It is off-topic, but the simple answer is, they are extra-dimensional beings with unique powers. We can discuss this more later. Shall we continue?”

Adrian nodded and Kate looked at her. She gave a nod as well.