*

"No. I would never put my hands on you; you know that. I'm sorry," Taye said as he walked to the other side of the room again. When she didn't answer, he turned around and saw her clutching her stomach, wincing in pain. "Adena, I didn't even touch your stomach. I now know how much you hate that-"

"Ohmygod," Adena said, pointing her light on the ground before her. "I think-"

"What's wrong? Did your water break?" Taye asked as he walked back over.

"I see no water Taye, but I don't feel so good," Adena trembled. "It felt like it did, though. I don't know what it feels like?"

Taye surveyed the floor around her, and he lifted her long maxi dress off the ground. Adena stepped back and snatched it from him. "Adena, stop, don't move," he told her. She almost didn't listen, but when she looked down and saw what Taye found, she froze, now unable to move if she wanted to. 

Her water didn't break, but a small puddle of blood left where she once stood. Adena gasped and lifted her dress. Seeing blood dripping down her legs almost made her faint. Taye caught her and sat her back on the couch as she clutched her stomach in pain. "That's not good. That's not good at all," he said without thinking. Adena looked at him in fear and started to cry. "But, you're going to be fine. Gimme your phone."

"Why?"

"Don't ask questions, Adena, just do it," he said frantically, practically snatching it from her. He pulled up her contacts. "What's your practitioner's name?"

"Teresa, Teresa Lopez," Adena said as the pain intensified and lasted longer. Was she dying?

He pressed her contact, and it rang and rang. "Hello, Dr. Lopez?" he asked, and Adena looked up, about to ask him to put her on speakerphone. "Hello?" he said and then hung up in frustration. "I'ma try again. It rang, but it didn't go all the way through-"

"We're in a blackout Taye," Adena said fearfully, tears rolling down her face. "I'm going to die. My baby's dying. We're both gonna die," she said as she started to sob. Taye was back by her side in seconds. 

"You are not going to die. Not with me. I won't let you," Taye said to her. He pressed the emergency call button, but that was giving him issues too. Jesus Christ, this was the worst time for this to happen. He kept trying both Dr. Lopez and 911 until he got an idea. He put his damp clothes back on. "Stay here-"

"No, don't, don't leave me," Adena begged as she grabbed his arm.

"Do you know any of your neighbors? Is anyone a doctor? A nurse?" he asked her. She only shook her head. "Well fuck it, I'm going to find one. Don't move," he said. He got out of her grasp. She started screaming for him to return, and he almost did, but he knew he couldn't help her. He needed help. He started banging on every door repeatedly and as hard as he could. "HELP! HELP! WE NEED A DOCTOR, PLEASE!!"

Craig and Missy immediately looked at Ron when they heard someone screaming for a doctor in the hallway. Ron sat there, sighed for a split second, and then got into doctor mode. In a flash, he went back through the doors to the hallway. Missy and Craig followed, but once Missy got closer, she recognized the voice. She moved even faster, pushing past Craig. She caught the door before it closed behind Ron and followed his phone's flashlight.

"What's the problem?" Ron asked them. The person paused, and then they pointed their light at his face to see what he looked like. Ron squinted and sighed. 

"You're a doctor?" they asked him.

"Yes, he's a doctor, Taye. What's going on, and what are you doing here?" Missy asked. Taye was surprised to see her and pointed his light at her face too. She blocked it. "Really?"

"Come on, it's Dena. I-. She-" he didn't finish the sentence before Missy pushed past him and ran into the apartment. 

He looked at Ron, "Do you have any experience with..?" Before he could finish, Craig appeared at his side. Craig's phone flashlight was under his chin, shining the light on his face. However, to Taye, he looked like a ghost. He jumped back. Craig thought the same as soon as he saw him. 

"Fuck, you again?" they both said to each other. 

"What are you doing here, you psychopath? She wants nothing to do with you!" Taye practically spat at him. Craig was trying to keep his cool but stepped forward. Ron held him back.

"If you two get to fighting, there's no way I can help her," Ron warned them. Craig's eyes widened.

Help her? Adena? "What's wrong?" he asked.

"This has nothing to do with you," Taye replied.

"RON! HURRY! QUICK!" Missy yelled from inside the apartment.

"Put your differences aside for once. I may need all hands on deck," Ron said as he rushed into the apartment. Taye was torn between telling Craig to leave or to follow Ron. Thankfully he was smart enough to follow Ron and ran into the apartment. When Craig was close enough to hear Adena crying, he teleported into the apartment.

His worst fears were being played right in front of him. Adena was crying, lying on the floor clutching her stomach as her head lay in Missy's lap. Missy looked up helplessly but was relieved as soon as she saw Ron. Craig shined his flashlight all over the apartment, spotless as usual, until he saw a pool of blood near the fireplace. His eyes widened. He started to walk over. 

"Don't you move! Don't come any closer, I swear to GOD!" Taye said as he pointed his flashlight in his face.

"Taye! Shut the fuck up!" Missy said to him. Craig looked at Adena as she lay on the floor in pain. Ron tried to talk to her and then looked back at Taye, who repeatedly yelled at him to stay away. So he did. He raised both his arms in surrender and backed up. ONLY because this was not the time. He had more serious things to worry about.

"How long have you been feeling these pains?" Ron asked her.

"They started like...a week ago?" Adena gasped out between crying. 

"A week ago? Why didn't you say anything?" Missy asked her.

"I've been busy-"

"Pain, on a scale of 1-10?" Ron continued.

"20!" Adena cried out. Craig winced and closed his eyes when she said that. He couldn't stand to see her crying and in pain. If only they had gotten here sooner and before this asshole Tucker did. What was he even doing here? He hoped another worst fear wasn't at play, her getting back with this toxic traitor.

"Adena, I'm going to have to look. We gotta lift your dress," Ron said as he sat before her.

"Ohmygod-"

"I've seen vaginas before, love, in worse conditions than this." The rest of them looked at him in horror, wanting to throw up in their mouths at the thought of what he's seen, but Adena crying out again brought them all back to earth. Ron lifted her dress and tried to show his best poker face, and there was a lot of blood. "I need towels. Wet and dry," he said.

"Adena, where do you keep-"

Before Taye could finish, Craig instantly went to the hall closet next to the bathroom and took all of them out. He tossed them on the couch. Ron tried to soak up the blood and stop the bleeding while Craig soaked some others in water. Luckily it was dark because Taye looked at him with a look that could kill. His phone vibrated again. It was Kim. How were her calls the only ones coming through? However, she had to wait. He turned it off.

"Taye? Taye?" Missy said, slapping him on his arm. Taye snapped back. 

"Have you called 911?" Ron repeated.

"Yes, several times it won't go through. I called her doctor, too," Taye said, "What's going on? Is the baby-"

"When's the due date?" Ron asked as he put the towels under and around Adena's lower half. Missy put a wet one on her forehead and handed Ron one as Craig tossed them one by one. 

Taye paused. "Um?"

"October 4th!" Craig shouted out. Taye gives him more death glares in the dark.

"Yeah, October 4th," Missy cosigned. 

"No, it's too soon; it's not even September," Adena cried out. "I can't. This can't happen now!" Missy tried to shush and console her. "Please, God, please, this can't happen now. I'm not ready yet!"

Craig sniffled and wiped the tears from his face, feeling restless because he had given them every towel in the apartment. What was he supposed to do now? Just watch? Hearing her cry was torture enough. "If I could take away your pain, I would babygirl," he whispered. He then had the bright idea of returning down those 20 flights of stairs and finding help. This way, he could help without seeing or hearing her in pain.

He almost suggested so, but miraculously, the power came back on.

*

Pig signs are among the most natural and easy-going personalities. They seek out the fun things in life. They help their friends when there is trouble and hope they all do the same in return.

*

They all sighed with relief as the lights and appliances roared back to life. Craig watched the view outside and saw the power coming back on, section by section, buildings lit up like Christmas. Ron sighed with relief. He didn't know how long he could work by candlelight like they were in 1722. He looked down and activated his poker face again. Now with more light, he could see better, and now he could see that she needed help ASAP. "Call her doctor and 911. Keep calling until you get them," he said to Taye, and he nodded and called from Adena's phone. He sighed, wondering if he should call Carmen and have her talk him through this, but that wouldn't exactly work. He's had more experience than her.

However, he's never done it outside of a hospital and never had to take such a risk on someone he cared for. He looked up and caught Craig's eyes. He looked like he was going to break down at any moment. He's never had to do a medical procedure this dangerous for someone his best friend was hopelessly in love with. 

"Adena, we're running out of time. Unless 911 can arrive in minutes, we must deliver this baby here and now." Of course, that was not what she wanted to hear, and she wailed in response, but he didn't know if that was because of the pain or the anticipation of how painful it will be. He had to think quickly. He looked around and saw a small pool of blood nearby. He knew how much Adena didn't like making a mess, and he needed her to be as calm as possible, "Craig, I need a shower curtain and a bucket of warm water," he said. 

Craig got to work immediately, no questions asked. Missy and Adena looked at him in confusion. "We're going to put the shower curtain under you so we can make this as clean as possible, and the baby needs to be as warm as possible once they come out," he explained. Luckily they both nodded, good. However, Adena didn't even know that Craig was even there. It was so dark, and too much was going on. She thought Taye was yelling at Ron and Missy this whole time. He was here? She looked around frantically. 

"Um, Adena, the address is 2049 Williamsburg Avenue?" Taye asked her. He finally got a hold of an ambulance. "Apartment 20A?"

"Yes!" Missy and Craig shouted at him. He then gave Adena's phone to Ron so he could talk to them. Craig came out with a shower curtain, and Taye was soon in his face.

"Don't come any closer," Taye said to him. 

"Taye, move out the fucking way. We need the shower curtain!" Missy yelled at him incredulously. Taye instead snatched it from him and took it over to them. If Craig didn't have to work on getting a bucket of warm water, that curtain would have been wrapped around Taye well enough to suffocate him. 

Relax, Craig.

Miraculously, an ambulance was nearby, and the elevators were working again, so they got there quicker than they thought. Craig sighed with relief as Adena was being helped onto a stretcher. "Only one family member," the EMT said to them, and Taye practically jumped in. 

"I'm the father," he said to them.

"Oh, NOW YOUR TRIFLING ASS WANTS TO BE A FATHER?" Missy shouted as the ambulance doors closed. 

As the ambulance drove off, Ron tried calming Missy, "Miss, it's fine. He needs to feel important right now. What you can do is go up there and pack her a bag. Three days' worth of clothes for her and the baby-"

Missy scoffed, "She did that months ago. I know where it is. I'll be right back." Now that Adena was being cared for, her anxiety turned into excitement. Her goddaughter or godson was on their way!

Craig chuckled. He remembered teasing her about packing a bag so early. It was one of their last good conversations. He then heard Ron saying his name and snapped back to the present. "Good job, my guy. I thought we would've had two people on a stretcher. You should be proud of yourself," Ron told him as he patted him on the back. 

Craig got his blunt back out. Theodore ruined his high. He lit it and inhaled. "I'm proud of myself, too," he said and then paused, "So...be honest, how bad is it?" he asked as he passed him the blunt. 

Ron took it gratefully. He was so glad to be saved from that stressful situation. "To be honest, there was a lot of blood. Way too much. Even with just blood spots, you need to see a doctor."

"Is she gonna make it?"

Ron patted him on the back, "Adena? Of course-"

"The baby too? Her mom and grandma both lost kids in this exact type of situation," he said. That was all he could think about this whole time, amongst other things. He knew she was, too.

"Oh wow. I didn't know her family history; that's not good," Ron said. Craig looked at him, wanting him to continue, "That doesn't help her chances; that's all I can say. Hopefully, she'll be the one who breaks that cycle." He shuddered, "Now I'm really glad I didn't have to deliver that baby up there or even know about it. That would've fucked me up."

That's the last thing he wanted to hear, but he asked him to be honest. He sighed. Ron passed him the blunt, and he took a quick inhale and passed it right back. He got his phone out and called a number. He hoped but also didn't hope that it would go through. He wished he could just leave a message.

"Hello?" they asked, and Craig's heart sank while the rest of him practically stood at attention. 

"Mr. Capricorn? It's me, Craig. Craig David."

"I see that it is. I was surprised to see your name pop up. Is this a butt dial?" he asked and chuckled. Great, he was in a good mood. He was going to hate him even more for ruining it. "Oh, and the blackout in the city, it's all over the news. You all alright?"

"Yeah, the power just came back on and just in time too. Our calls couldn't even go through-"

"I know. I tried calling Adena several times but couldn't get through," Mr. Capricorn said. He paused, "Are you with her? Right now?"

"I was, yes-"

"How is she?"

Craig sighed. "That's why I'm calling. Um..." He had to take a few deep breaths. "If you can, you should come out here to Brooklyn. She's going to need you."

"What do you mean?" Mr. Capricorn asked, his tone turning dark. Small Chat Mr. Capricorn was gone. "Spit it out."

"Adena is having complications-"

"With what?"

"I think she's going into labor, sir."

"You think, or you know? What did you see?"

"Lots of blood. We were told to be prepared-"

"During the blackout?" he asked.

"Yes, but the lights came back on, just in time. Her ambulance just left."

"Where?"

"Luckily, she was at home when it happened-"

"No, where is she now?"

"Brooklyn General."

"Ah, shit," Mr. Capricorn mumbled. "It's better than nothing, but that's not saying much." He turned to Adena's mother, "Get your things together, babe. We got to go." He could hear Mrs. Capricorn ask why. "Anyway, thank you so much for calling. We appreciate that. We're on our way. Update us when you get there." 

Then he hung up. Craig didn't realize he was holding his breath. He sighed. Just then, Missy came out with a couple of bags. "Ok, so what are we going to do? I'm not getting on that subway."

*

Here in the West, pigs are viewed with negative qualities like greediness, laziness, filthiness, and stupidity. Pigs are none of these things to the Chinese. They're far from overwhelming and are careful and determined. They still love to eat, though.

*

"What do you mean we gotta go?" Gladys asked him. She looked at the clock. It was 9:30 pm. What on earth for?

"We got to go to Brooklyn," Rich said as he put his shoes on quickly and got his keys. He was all ready to go. Men.

"Where in Brooklyn?" Gladys asked, putting her hands on her hips. 

"I'm starting the car," was all he replied and left. 

"Are you serious?" Gladys asked. She had just finished wrapping her hair. Now she had to unwrap it. He probably invited them both to some boring function and forgot to tell her about it. Now she had no time to say no. "What should I wear then?" she said to herself. She jumped when the horn honked. "Are you kidding me?" she said, putting on a bra. She put her makeup bag in her purse and grabbed the first sundress she could grab. She was going to kill Rich.

There was a method to Rich's madness. It would be a more pleasant ride if he could get them to the hospital without her knowing. For them both. If he told her, he was afraid that she would go into literal shock, and he'd rather do that with actual doctors around. Not in a moving vehicle with him. As he sat and waited for Gladys, he texted Craig back. Before he closed his phone screen, he looked at the photo of him and Adena that was the wallpaper on it. He shook his head sadly and prayed. He watched her mother go through this twice. He prayed every night that this wouldn't happen. That she wouldn't lose the child. Whether the child is 10 minutes old or 50 years old, a parent should never have to bury their child. Unfortunately, he had to bury two. Richard Jr. and Diana. 

His melancholy was interrupted as Gladys got in the car and slammed the door shut. He put on his poker face and pulled out of the driveway quickly. "Alright, so what now?" she asked him. He didn't answer. "What did you invite us to that you forgot to tell me about?" she asked him, arms crossed. 

"It's more of a family emergency," he said, turning on the radio. Half-truths were just as valid. 

"What? Why didn't you tell me? I wouldn't have gotten dressed up," Gladys said. He glanced at her and saw her wearing a dark burgundy velvet sundress—one of his favorites. 

"And you look beautiful, babe," Rich said to her. He reached over and grabbed her hand, and kissed it. He'd rather not talk to her, but talking to her kept him calm. "Remember when you used to do that? Dress up for anywhere we went together? The grocery store, errands in general-"

"I was young and had time and energy to waste-"

"No, you wanted to look good for me. You know that's my love language," he said to her with a smile. She was already the most beautiful woman in the room without effort, but it was even better when he knew she was dressing up for him, which she knew would make him happy. 

Buttering her up, too, may calm her down.

"Well, I wasted time, Rich. Who is it now?" Gladys asked him. They were now getting to that age where going to funerals was more frequent, but it was still a shock because they were all still pretty young. A friend from his fraternity passed last week. His funeral was a class reunion, a sad one. A distant cousin of hers was last month.

"Who is what?"

"The family emergency! The one you dragged me out of bed for!"

Damn it, she was mad. "You know what, I don't know if you ever met them," he said as he turned the radio to a comedy station. "I'd rather not talk about it right now."

"Well, I rather we do," Gladys said as she turned the radio down to 0. "Who. Is. It?" He turned the radio back up, and she turned it down. Up, down, up, down. She sighed and turned it off. "What's going on?"

"I told you-"

"You're hiding something from me?!" she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Who called you? Huh?" He didn't answer, "You all talking behind my back again?"

"Who is?"

"You! You and my family! Who called you? Dana? What she say? 'Don't tell Gladys.'?" she mocked her. Rich just shook his head. Finally, they got on the expressway, and he sped up. Gladys noticed this. "What is this?" she asked, a little quieter. Why were they in such a rush? "Wait, it's Dana? She's actually-"

"No babe-"

"Rashad?!" He shook his head and kept his eyes on the road. He then felt a hard swat on the side of his shoulder. He didn't flinch, but he looked over at her.

"You crazy?" he asked, and she punched him again. "Gladys??"

"Tell me! It has to be someone close because you wouldn't be this secretive," she said, then paused. Her anxiety started going up. "Have you talked to Adena?"

"No, calls aren't going through, but the lights are back on there. No news is good news, right?"

"Not when it comes to our pregnant daughter who is at risk-" she said and stopped. 

"Ah, shit," Rich said as they slowed down. Traffic jam, and they're already late. "Shit."

"It's Adena?" she asked him. He didn't answer. "Is it?"

"Gladys-" but then he was interrupted by his phone. Craig was calling. "Yes?" he answered immediately.

"Um, we're here. We're on the 4th floor. They wouldn't let us back there because we aren't family, so you'll know more than us when you get here."

"So she's by herself?" Rich asked. "Why couldn't you just say you were the child's father? Come on. Or have Missy say she's her sister."

"Let's just say someone beat me to it," Craig said. Besides, he didn't feel he was worthy of the title. A few months ago, maybe.

"Who?"

"Tyler," Craig groaned out.

"Who!?"

"Taye, sorry, they let Taye back there."

"Taye?!" he said furiously. Craig had to hold the phone away from his face. "What in the hell is he doing there?"

"I have no idea."

"There's traffic on the expressway. We're about 30 minutes out," he said, "Thank you, Craig."

"Yeah, you're welcome. I'll keep you posted."

Then Gladys' purse hit him in the head as soon as he hung up. "GLADYS?!"

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME IT WAS DENA!" she said as she started to cry. She hit him with the purse again.

"GLADYS! STOP!"

"Taye and Craig are there too? What happened? She's hurt?"

"I don't know exactly, Taye is the one who is with her, but he-" He was then interrupted by her purse again. "Gladys! Stop it! Pull yourself together!" he said as he finally got ahold of the bag, snatched it, and threw it in the backseat. 

"YOU DO KNOW! TELL ME!"

"I'm being honest, sweetheart! I don't know. This is why I didn't want to tell you because you would have a-"

"Our baby!" she wailed as she covered her face. "Our baby's baby! Our babies!" Rich tried to comfort her, but she pushed him away. He held up his hands in surrender. 

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, I was trying to save you from this," he said as she continued to cry. "If I could take away your pain, I would, babygirl," he said for her and Adena. 

"We gotta hurry! We can't just sit here!" Gladys panicked.

"It's a traffic jam, Gladys. What am I supposed to do?"

"Go around! Get to the nearest exit! It's an emergency!"

"And get pulled over? That will slow us down even more. Think Gladys. She needs us safe just as much as we need her to be safe." Gladys didn't like that answer. She reached over and honked the horn on the steering wheel. Rich grabbed her wrist swiftly but did not hurt her. "Gladys! Stop. We're doing all we can!"

"We're doing nothing! Nothing!" Gladys cried out. 

They continued to sit, and she continued to cry. She was right. He hit the steering wheel in frustration. This was why he didn't want to say a word.

It hurt more being helpless.

*

Pig signs are linked to the Chinese element, water. Water is connected to the arts and inner expressiveness. Emotionally, water is also associated with fear.

*

https://youtu.be/DSD-S_oIKpw