Worry

His heart thumped in his chest in a strong, rhythmetic pattern. It beat faster than usual as he looked around the waiting room. What would appear to be normal to anyone else, became exaggerated and amplified to him. Each minute of not knowing that went by ate at his very soul. After only seven months of pregnancy, his wife had gone into early labor. Extremely early. He didn't know what was in store for her, or his unborn child, only that it was an emergency, and he would not know the outcome until after everything was said and done. The loss of control and lack of knowledge was almost more than he could bare. Would the baby make it? Would his wife make it? His feelings were unexplainable, it was like a seed of impending doom had been planted, and was now blossoming.

Around him, members of another family were informed that their loved one had given birth to a bouncing baby boy. As the family cheered, he quietly welled up with tears, but gripping the arms of his chair, he swallowed down the lump of pain in his throat and held them back. Would he ever get that news? Would he ever hear the words "Congratulations Daddy!", or would he get a solemn look and words of condolence? All he could do was wait.