We Didn’t Start the Fire Pt. 1
Teresa had gotten home late that evening after a very long shift. Her husband was already in a deep sleep by the time she had gotten to the apartment. She quietly had got up the stair to their bedroom, in which was quite large for an apartment. But Teresa liked it. The room walls were white with turquoise accents, which was her own personal touch. Though due to the lighting of the room it wouldn’t have been too noticeable. She quietly set her bag from work aside on a turquoise armchair, close to the bed. The she managed to go to the closet and quietly dress into her nightwear. Then she walked to the bathroom to quickly brush her teeth before turning in for the night.
Teresa proceeded back to the bedroom and under the covers as she laid next to her husband. Careful not to wake him. Then reached over to set her cell phone on the bedside table, as well as turn off the light. She then snuggled under the covers and attempted to find a comfortable position to sleep. With her belly, swollen with new life it seemed harder and harder each month to find a way to sleep. She wasn’t carrying one baby but twins, which was more of a load. Sometimes one would settle close to her bladder and she’d be on the run throughout the night or other nights she’d be jabbed in the ribs as a wake up call. Right now they were quiet, in which she was grateful because she was very tired. Teresa had shifted her weight so she laid on her side and she could hear her husband’s soft breathing patterns as she soon slowly drifted off to sleep.
Hours later... she was jolted awake by chipper sound of Billy Joel’s carribean like music. Though she wasn’t the only one startled as she had lightly rubbed her belly after receiving a few painful kicks. Teresa grumbled faintly as she didn’t remember having Billy Joel’s “We didn’t start the fire” as an alarm. She rubbed her eyes lightly, adjusting to the darkness as she realized it wasn’t an alarm but a phone call. She glanced at the caller ID and sighed. Her best friend must have changed her ringtone as a joke. She then hesitantly answered the phone and sat up. “Chris?” She asked, mildly confused but a grogginess in her voice since she had just woke up.
“Hey…” A voice said over the line. It was Chris Deleo, one of Teresa’s co-workers and best friends. “I know it’s late and all but, can I come over? ...I can’t sleep.” He said, a pause in his voice. It wasn’t his usual chipper voice which Teresa was so used to. Teresa tried to keep her voice low so she didn’t wake her husband as he had to get up in a few hours for work but she was genuinely concerned about her best friend. “Chris, what’s wrong?” She asked, worried. There was a faint stutter in Chris’s voice but he didn’t give. “I-I just couldn’t sleep.” He said again. “Get some warm tea or whatever works for you and get some rest.” Teresa said, trying her best to give advice. “I kinda can’t…” He said, sounding a bit disappointed. Teresa wondered why as she shifted her weight from one foot, to the other. “Why not?” She asked as she tried to suppress a yawn. “Uh, I’m kinda outside your apartment…”
There was a long pause before Teresa finally answered. “Alright. Give me a few minutes to get dressed.” She could hear Chris’s sigh of relief before she hung up the phone. She then proceeded to the closet to find something suitably comfortable since she wasn’t doing much that day anyways. After minute of rummaging she found a pair of sweatpants and she barrowed one of her husband’s oversized sweat shirts since it was one of the few items that would fit her at this point in time. She didn’t really show off her curves of motherhood as she felt no need. Of course she was excited as a mother to be could though, she didn’t need to show off her baby bump to prove that. Right now comfortable clothes were her best friend.
After Teresa finished changing her clothing with few struggles, she walked over to her husband who was still sleeping and kissed him softly on the cheek. She never left to go anywhere without giving him a kiss. If there was one thing she learned from being a surgeon is that you should show those you love every day and anytime, that you love them cause you never know if that one “I love you.” or kiss will be their last. She snuggled in his sweater, inhaling his scent as it gave her comfort as she felt she would need it. It was once again her time to ease someone’s troubled mind.