Phoenix: The Rebirth

It was a beautiful day as well as a beautiful morning. The young couple, Jeremy and Sara sat in the stable as Jeremy fed the horses. "How are the preparations going with you?" Jeremy questioned as he fed the horses in the stable. "You mean the preparation to move to Salatia?" Sara asked in response to his question. "Of course!" He turned to her. He watched his wife as she kept knitting wear for her unborn child. He smiled as he looked at her and her protruding stomach. He smiled again as the thought of him becoming a father crossed his mind. Jeremy walked towards his wife whose undivided attention was on the wear she was knitting. She was almost done with the piece she was knitting. "Our baby is going to be blessed to have a mother like you" Sara smiled at Jeremy's words which soothed her heart like honey. "She is also going to be happy and favored to have you as her father" "Maybe. She is going to be so beautiful. Very beautiful. Extremely beautiful like no one else " He stared at her stomach. "What do you mean extremely beautiful like no one else?" She pushed him gently and folded her arms across her chest. "Of course beautiful like no one else," He said, purposely teasing her. "And you keep saying it!" She stood up and made to leave. He smiled and wrapped his hands around her waist behind, resting on her back. "You know you are irreplaceable. You know I love you and no one else can be as beautiful as you are to me, my love". He assured her. " I am afraid you might love her more than me" She tried to break free from his hold. "No, it is impossible" He assured her and turned her face to meet his, and then, gently, like the gentleman that he is, he planted a kiss on her shoulders and then her cheeks and they both smiled. "Come, let's go in" He held her hands and took her in gently. He walked her in and all of a sudden, he scooped her into his arms. "What are you doing?" She asked amidst laughter. "Of course, treating you like the Queen you are". " Oh Jeremy" She crossed her arms on his shoulders and placed her head gently on his chest and gently listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat in conjunction with hers. How lucky she is! To reap what she hasn't sown or maybe what she had. Growing up, Sara had always been a good woman, worthy of emulation, loved by all, and sundry. Respectful to elders, humble, and nice to young ones. "There she goes, perfection" People would say upon seeing her. She would smile, revealing her perfect dentition. Maybe nature took note of her good deeds and decided to give her a perfect husband who was twice as nice, kind-hearted, caring, loving as well as respectful as she is. She smiled again as the thought of the first day they met crossed her mind. It was on a Saturday when she went to see her sister who was just delivered of a baby. He too, just like her came to the hospital but to see a friend. "Hello" He greeted as they sat side by side waiting for their turns to be let in. "Hello" She smiled shyly as she stared at the floor. "Why are you here?" He asked with a warming smile. "Well, I came to see my sister who just put to bed" She smiled still staring at the floor. "Congratulations" "Thank you. So what brings you here? " She asked and with all the courage and confidence she could gather, she managed to steal a glance at him. Then she beheld his beautiful face rather than the handsome face because he was more beautiful than handsome. His smile was so angelic. "He is so beautiful," She thought in her mind. "Well, I came to see a friend." Just then, he caught the sight of his friend whom he came to meet. "That is him. I'll be right back" He smiled and walked away. She smiled too but before he was 'right back', she was gone. The smile on Jeremy's face evaporated into thin air as he came back but could not find her. A smile trying to conceal his sadness like make-up. They thought that was all until they bumped into each other again at a friend's function and that was it. They were determined not to let each other go again and there, their love story began. "What are you thinking of that is making you smile like this?" He asked smiling at her and bringing her out of her reverie. "Well, nothing " She tried to make a serious face as he let her down. "Nothing? Explain why you are smiling then" "Smiling?" She feigned ignorance "Yes, tell me what it is. Is it about me?" "Well, it was about the first day we met" She blushed. "The day you were dying to melt in my hands, you mean?" He asked teasingly. "On the contrary, you were the one dying to be with me. Don't flatter yourself." "Whichever way it is, it doesn't matter. All that matters now is we are together now" He held her hands "And expecting a baby" He kissed her stomach softly. "When is the baby coming?" Jeremy questioned, still staring at her stomach. "Well, the doctor said it would be six days from now " Sara smiled. " That's beautiful.Our journey would take just a day, that means we would have been a little bit settled in Salatia before she joins us" He calculated. "Jeremy, please can't we have her here before leaving?" "No. The journey would be impossible ". " But......" " No buts. Go to bed now, tomorrow is a long day". She walked away angrily to her bed. She would come around so that doesn't matter. All that matters now is the journey ahead of them. He sighed and went to bed too. The early morning sun crept in slowly shining on their faces. Jeremy stood up and realized it was time for them to leave. "Sara, we need to leave now" He woke his wife who stretched lazily on the bed. "Can I get an hour more?" She asked half awake. "No, we need to leave now so we can get to Salatia before night falls" He gently took their things and arranged them on the horses outside. He came in and still found her sleeping. "Sara, get up, we need to go" "Thirty minutes?" "No, it is now" "Twenty minutes?" "Sara" He called gently "Ten minutes?" "Sara" He called again, holding his anger. "Five minutes?" "Sara!" He yelled in anger causing her to stand up slowly and lazily. "What else is remaining?" She asked rubbing her eyes with the back of her palm. "You. Take your bath and let's leave". He gently pulled her to the bathroom and waited for her outside. Twenty minutes had passed and she was not yet out. " Sara" He called but there was no response. He went to the bathroom and met her on the floor, she looked lifeless. Fear crept into his heart. "Sara" He shrugged her and she turned lazily. His fear transformed into anger. "What is this? Sleeping on the bathroom floor? Seriously?" He frowned at her. "I'm sorry, I was so sleepy" She yawned and began to bathe. This time, he watched her wash her body slowly but what could he do? All he could do was wait no matter how long. "I love you Jeremy " She smiled as if talking to herself. "I love you," She said again, still smiling and looking at her body. She took three times her regular time of bathing and dressing. What could he do? After all, she was carrying his child, and each time he tries to hurry her up, she would reply "It is your baby who is responsible for it". That ended the chapter, he would remain speechless. Truly, it was the baby. He had heard from his mother how difficult pregnancy, as well as childbearing was but Sara was taking it to the extreme. " Shall we?" She held out her hands to his. "You look too beautiful in this dress, I don't want other men looking at you" He frowned. "Maybe they might want to but their gaze will stop on my stomach " She rubbed her stomach. "They would still look at you!" "Let's go, we don't have time " She walked and he followed. "Are you trying to avoid replying to me?" "What should I say?" "At least reassure me that you won't leave me for them" "Oh, Jeremy. It is you or no one else. Plus we have a baby joining us, we are becoming a family. Shall we move now?" "Yes, my lady" They both laughed as he helped her up on the horse. Lovebirds always acting like children at any opportunity possible. Children they were at heart, yet expecting their child. They journeyed on their various horses with Jeremy and their luggage on a horse and Sara alone on another horse. She complained and acted all stressed out cursing and crying with every step they took, pissing Jeremy off but what could he do? After all, she was pregnant No sooner had the journey started when they sighted a seer. "Can I visit the seer?" She pleaded with excitement in her voice. Really? Time was against them, how could she think of this now? Of course, she is pregnant. How could he not hear her plea? "Yes, you can " He faked a smile. Before he could say Jack Robinson, she jumped off the horse like she wasn't pregnant, like she was not the same woman crying and cursing a few minutes ago. He sighed and jumped off his horse too, followed her not trusting the seer, after all, the seer was also a man. "Good day sir, can you tell me about my baby?" She stretched forth her hand in excitement. Jeremy scoffed and looked sideways as he had no belief in it. "Of course " The seer hugged her hands with his from behind, closing his eyes and humming some unknown words. Jeremy watched with disgust at the seer's act. He turned towards her and saw her smiling, glowing with happiness. Her smiles, so infectious and then he smiled too. If this gives her happiness, he just has to let her be, after all in her very own words which were more like an anthem to him, "I am pregnant ". " Woman, you and your husband must be good people for you to be blessed with such a child. She is going to be a great woman, known by all and sundry. She is going to be a carrier of exploits. She is coming, I can feel it. However, this task given to her will be greater than her and will shake her vigorously, extending to you both, her parents. She is the chosen one" He revealed, still closing his eyes then slowly, he opened his eyes and smiled. She smiled back not sure if it is of joy or sadness. She remained quiet as she walked together with Jeremy to their horses. "Why are you quiet?" "Did you hear what he said about our daughter?" She glowed with happiness "Of course" He faked a smile as he didn't believe the soothsayer but knew for sure within himself, that his child is not an ordinary child. She chattered and chattered all through the journey and then she stopped. "Jeremy" She called softly. He was lost in thoughts as he had no interest in what she was saying. "Jeremy " She called again and then he turned to look at her. She was in pain. "Are you fine?" "Ahhhhh!" She shrieked. "I think... I... I... think" She strived to talk. "Talk to me, what is it?" He held her gently scooping her from her horse. "I think the baby is coming" She managed to say. "What?? You said the baby is coming in five days, it isn't five days!" He yelled. "That was what the doctor said!" She defended herself. " Jeremy, help me, I am dying" She cried softly, like a whisper. Jeremy was confused, they were in a forest and there was no way in heaven's name in which they can get to see anyone nearby. He could not leave her to go seek help cause It would take him about an hour and thirty minutes to get help, he couldn't watch her die. He was confused, just then a man came. A mysterious man from nowhere. Let's say... an angel in disguise. He rushed towards them, took some leaves, blended them, and whispered some words before rubbing her stomach with it. Jeremy and Sara watched with hopes high and just like magic, the baby came through. Jeremy and Sara were so glad to see their daughter, all thanks to the stranger. "Thank you very much, we are so grateful, how can we repay you?" Jeremy bowed in appreciation. "Nothing" He chuckled and made to leave. "No, you can't just leave. You don't know what you have done. You have saved two lives, even three because if my wife and child had died, I would have joined them" "Thank you but as I said, I don't want any gift from you" The stranger smiled. "I insist" "If you insist then, can you give me what I want?" He gave a half-smile. "Anything you want, I have money, everything you want " Jeremy smiled. "I want her" He pointed at the baby. Jeremy looked at his wife with shock and she looked back at him with the same expression. "What!!!!" "Do not be worried" The stranger smiled "I don't want her now." He turned his back to them "I will come for her when she is ripe for marriage" He began to walk away leaving both of them dazed, just then, the baby let out a cry shaking them both into reality.