Senda's Birth

Tucona's house stinked blood and urine. On the treatment room, a young, hardly fifteen summers old girl was sitting on her hunkers, leaning on the bed behind her with her elbows. Her stomach was big and round and she was pushing the baby out with all her strength.
- It's going fine, Alice, keep pushing !
Tucona tried to encourage her. But there was a hidden worry on her heart. Tucona's robe was almost entirely covered on blood.  Her arms were on blood to her elbows. Her long hair was gathered on big bun twist behind her head.
Floor below the young girl glimmered in dark red blood. Bed was wet, mattress heavy of it.
Alice left out her last, brutal shout and the baby fell to Tucona's hands. Girl shaked all over... Tucona pulled the girl up on the bed.
- Just rest now...

Tucona took the bloody baby and washed on a big ceramic bowl, and wrapped the child on soft wool cloth. Tucona walked back to the Alice's bed, with her forehead on wrinkles as she wondered; where did all that blood come from ? Why did the girl bleed like a slaughtered animal?
Tucona placed the swaddled baby on Alice's chest and it started sucking the milk from girl's breast. Girl looked confused but most of all exhausted. Tucona gave her an calming smile and then checked the wounds: Alice had ripped very seriously inside and out. Her body simply was not mature enough for giving birth... Tucona tried to keep her face calm, but worry did show out. Alice looked at her, lower lip quivering, and burst into tears.
- I don't want to die! It's not right! I'm too young!

Bitter tears attempted to come to Tucona's eyes but she held them back. 'Death comes when he sees fit', grandmother's words appeared on her mind. Tucona took Alice's trembling hand, held it and answered:
- I'll be honest with you, Alice. You have lost too much blood. And your wounds won't be easy to heal, but I will try.
She moved the fine thread through the eye of the needle, dried some blood with a piece of cloth and began stitching the wound - not getting very far. Blood gushed from wounds so abundantly that it was very hard if not impossible to stitch them...
Tucona frowned. Little voice on her head told her: 'It's her time to go.' and Tucona knew it to be right. She placed the needle and thread down on the table. And confronted Alice's panicky look.
Tucona was quiet, and stroked girls hair. Young girl knew on her heart the truth... She didn't ask. She didn't say anything.
- I'll go to make you some tea...

Tucona returned, in a cleaner robe and with a steaming teapot on her hand. Alice's eyes were closed, but chest billowed normally. Tucona placed the teapot and porcelain cup on the bedside table.
- Alice? she asked, touching girl's cold forehead.
Girl shivered, and Tucona took a heavy blanket from the chest and rolled it over her.
- Who's the father? Tucona asked.
- B..raden... Alice answered on a weak voice.
- From the westside of village ? Son of the of the old Tess-widow ?
Answer was a vague mutter, which sounded like yes... Then girl fell asleep out of the lack of blood and rest. Tucona stroked her hair softly, humming a lullaby.

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It was an early morning, when Tucona stood behind the door, with a bundle on her arms. She knocked. Old, blind woman opened the door and said instantly:
- If you are gathering taxes, I have nothing. You won't take a home of an old woman?
And door was slammed open in front of Tucona's face. She was just about to knock second time, when she saw a young, approximately fifteen summers old boy walking toward terrace. When he noticed Tucona and child, he freezed on place. Tucona walked toward him.
- Good morning, would you be Braden ?
Youngster nodded, taking off his hat out of courtesy and bowed lightly. Then he looked at the bundle - the baby.
- I came to bring you your daughter, Tucona stated the obvious, handing the baby toward the young father.
Braden held the baby, touching her soft cheeks, with wonder and confusion on his face. Suddenly he seemed to snap out of a dream:
- Why Alice didn't come ?
- She perished late last evening, Tucona answered quietly and respectfully.
Young father gulped and quickly passed the baby back to a woman.
- I don't want her, boy grumbled silently, and ran off.
- But... Braden ! Wait !
Tucona shouted after the boy. He didn't stop, but ran until he disappeared from Tucona's sight.