After Giving Birth, They Said I Never Had a Baby

The day after I gave birth, everyone denied it ever happened.

The hospital said I had no delivery record. What baby?

My husband said he was unmarried, that it was impossible for me to be pregnant with his child.

Even my parents cried and begged me.

Audrey, you were never pregnant. Please, stop this.

I called the media, forced my way into the neonatal unit to find my son, and was dragged away like a lunatic.

They sent me to a psychiatric hospital.

The last time I tried to escape, I died under the wheels of a truck.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back.

Today was my due date.

A sharp pain ripped through my abdomen. My water broke.

I was in labor again.

I gasped for air.

The familiar ache in my belly, the familiar, heavy pressure.

Audrey? Audrey, whats wrong?

Marks face was a mask of worry.

I looked up at him. That was the face that had, in my last life, used the gentlest voice to invalidate my entire existence.

It hurts the baby I managed to choke out.

Its time? Oh my God!

Mark leaped to his feet, fumbling to help me up. Come on, we have to get to the hospital!

The hospital?

Yes, we had to go to the hospital.

The last time, the hospital was where I lost everything.

Wait!

I couldnt just walk in unprepared like before.

My ID and yours I pointed toward the bedroom.

Theres no time for that! We need to go! Mark was genuinely panicked, sweat beading on his forehead.

No, Ill get them!

I forced myself up and pulled our marriage certificate from the back of the drawer.

Mark Peterson and Audrey Thorne.

Our names, printed in black and white.

I glanced at the wedding photos on the wall. Every single one was real.

The contractions came again, stronger this time. I lay in the back seat while Mark drove. At a red light, he called my parents.

Mom, Dad, Audreys in labor

Yeah, were on our way to the hospital now

I pictured my parents faces. Their love for me had always felt real, too. So why had they also told me I was never pregnant?

Between waves of pain, I shakily pulled out my phone. I snapped a picture of the street sign outside the window, then a candid shot of Marks anxious profile. Finally, I aimed the camera down and took a close-up of my swollen belly.

Mark noticed. What are you doing?

Documenting an important moment I forced a weak smile and uploaded the photos to my cloud storage. These images, time-stamped and geotagged, had to be undeniable.

Finally, we reached the hospital. I was rushed to a delivery room, and a nurse checked me.

Youre fully dilated. Lets go!

Everything was happening exactly as I remembered. But this time, through the blinding pain, my mind was crystal clear.

Waaah!

With a sharp cry, my child was born.

The midwife held up the tiny, red body, bringing him close to my face. Look, a beautiful baby boy.

Tears streamed down my face. As I reached out to touch my son, I used the last of my strength to pluck a few strands of hair from his head. The baby wailed in pain. My heart ached, but I had to have proof. If they tried to tell me I never had a child, or that this child wasn't mine, I would have his DNA.

The midwife was already cutting the cord, weighing him, and swaddling him in a blanket.

They moved me to a private room. I was so exhausted, I closed my eyes, just for a moment.

When I woke up, the first thing I did was reach for the bassinet beside my bed.

It was empty. The space where my son should have been was vacant.

I slammed the call button.

A young nurse hurried in. Youre awake! How are you feeling? Is the incision painful?

My baby? I demanded. Where is my baby?

The nurses smile faltered. A flicker of confusion crossed her face. Baby? What baby?

The baby I just delivered! My son! I had him last night! My voice rose with panic.

The nurse walked to the foot of my bed, glanced at the chart hanging there, then looked down at her clipboard, frowning. Maam, are you sure youre not mistaken?

This room was on standby yesterday. You were admitted for observation late last night. The chart says you came in for acute abdominal pain. The diagnosis is still pending.

BOOM.

My world tilted. Thats impossible! I grabbed her sleeve. I had a baby! How can he be gone? Where is my husband, Mark? MARK! He was supposed to stay with me, but he was gone, too.

The nurse, startled, tried to pull away. Maam, please calm down! There is no record of a newborn. You were admitted alone. There are no family members on your record.

Youre lying! I screamed. The tearing pain between my legs flared up with the sudden movement. Get your supervisor! Check the security footage!

My shouting brought more people. The head nurse rushed in, her words a soothing but empty echo of the first nurses. No delivery record. No baby.

Mark Ill call my husband

My hands trembled as I found his number. The phone rang for a long time before he answered, his voice thick with sleep. Hello? Audrey?

Where are you? Wheres the baby? The hospital says hes gone! Theyre saying I never even had a baby! The words tumbled out in a frantic, tearful rush.

There was a two-second pause on the other end. Then, a weary sigh. Audrey, did you have another nightmare? Is your stomach hurting again? Just listen to the doctors and let them run their tests.

I told you yesterday, I have an early meeting at the office this morning. Ill come see you as soon as its over.

What are you talking about? I shrieked. I just had a baby! Youre supposed to be here with me!

A baby? Marks voice was filled with genuine confusion. Audrey, were not even married. Where would a baby come from?

Not married where would a baby come from

The exact same words as last time.

I froze. I had expected it, but hearing it again was still a physical blow.

Lets call security, the head nurse murmured to someone beside her. This patient is emotionally unstable.

Two uniformed guards appeared at the door. They didnt enter, but their presence was an implicit threat.

Just then, I heard frantic footsteps in the hallway.

Audrey! My baby girl!

My parents burst into the room. My mother, her face etched with worry, threw her arms around me. Why did you come to the hospital? You scared me to death! You were so incoherent on the phone

I clung to her like a lifeline. Mom, I had the baby! But hes gone! They wont admit it!

My mothers body stiffened. She pulled away, her eyes clouded with concern. Audrey, honey, you werent pregnant.

Have you have you been working too hard? Are you seeing things?

My father stepped forward and sighed. Audrey, your mother has a weak heart. Dont frighten her. Lets just cooperate with the doctors, get a check-up, and go home.

Hallucinations? Again with the hallucinations?

A cold dread washed over me. Im not hallucinating! I have proof!

I opened my cloud album and showed them the photos from the car, especially the close-up of my belly. Look! I took these on the way to the hospital last night! Look how big my stomach was!

My mother glanced at the phone, and her eyes welled up with tears. Oh, Audrey. You can do anything with photo editing apps these days. Why are you torturing yourself like this?

My fathers brow furrowed. We know you want to start a family, but you have to take things one step at a time. You cant just invent things because youre desperate to marry Mark.

I stared at them in disbelief. The evidence was right there, but they refused to see it.

I want to see my husband! He drove me here! Let him tell you what happened! I swung my legs out of bed, staggering as a sharp pain shot through me. My mother rushed to steady me while my father blocked my path.

Audrey, stop making a scene! Havent you caused enough embarrassment?

The security guards stepped into the room. Maam, please remain calm. If you continue to disturb the other patients, we will have to take necessary measures.

No matter how much I cried or pleaded, no one believed me.

Just as the chaos reached its peak, Mark appeared. He was dressed in a crisp shirt and trousers, holding a briefcase, looking like hed just stepped out of an important meeting.

Mark! I cried, all my pain and fury erupting at once. Tell them! Tell them were married, that I was pregnant with your child, and that you brought me here last night to give birth!

Mark walked to my bedside, his expression a mixture of pity and sorrow. Audrey, we are dating, and I care for you deeply. But marriage we never did. And a child thats simply not possible.

He turned to my parents and the hospital staff. Shes been under a lot of stress from work, and I think our recent breakup hit her harder than I realized shes developed some unhealthy fantasies. Im so sorry. This is my fault.

Breakup? Fantasies?

I watched his performance, my blood turning to ice.

Youre lying! I ripped open the document folder Id brought from home. This is our marriage certificate! I held the two red booklets high. Inside were our names, our photos, and a wedding date from one year ago.

Mark just sighed. Audrey, arent those the fake certificates we bought online for April Fools last year? We posted a picture on social media, remember? Our friends and family were all so shocked.

My parents nodded. Yes, we told you two to stop messing around!

Fake? How could they be fake?

Mark pulled out his phone and opened his online shopping history. And there it was: a purchase record for two replica marriage certificates.

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. No, we went to City Hall. Look, it has the official seal.

Marks patience was clearly wearing thin. If you still dont believe me, I can check the states official records portal right now.

He logged in and entered his own name. His marital status: Unmarried.

Then he entered mine. The same result: Unmarried.

I was stunned. I snatched the phone from his hands, checking and rechecking, but the result was the same.

Mark gently touched my forehead. You must want to marry me so badly that youve started to imagine things.

My parents looked at me with pity, shaking their heads. But no matter what they said, I refused to believe it.

No! None of this is a hallucination! I screamed, thrashing against their grip. Youre all lying to me! Why? WHY?

My struggles were futile. I was easily overpowered.

History was repeating itself in the most suffocating way possible.

They injected me with a sedative. It left my body limp, but my mind was wide awake as they transferred me from the maternity ward to the psychiatric ward. Just like before.

My parents stayed with me. My mother cried silently while my father paced outside, chain-smoking. I closed my eyes and forced myself to remember every detail of the previous night.

Thats right. The strands of baby hair.

I shakily retrieved them from my pocket. They were still there. I really, truly had a baby.

When my parents werent looking, I called my best friend, Linda. I need you to take something for me and get a DNA test done at a different lab. Dont tell anyone. Especially not Mark or my parents.