Chapter 10
A New Life Begins
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After two years of marriage—three since I was a spirit—life was still bliss. Thanwa sold his family’s business and returned to being a doctor, only he transferred to work at a hospital in Bangkok near home. As for me, I continued running the family drugstore.
On one winter night, when the weather was cool and not as sweltering as usual...
"Thanwa, stay calm,” I said, holding my swollen, pregnant belly as another contraction ripped through me. “I'm just going into labor." It was a week before my due date. I was surprised that it was me having to tell Thanwa, the doctor to stop panicking and not the other way around. The usually stoic doctor I once knew, when faced with a medical event that actually affected him, was completely losing his cool, his doctor's aura vanishing.
Thanwa stopped his pacing, putting his hands on his hips and trying to take deep breaths. “What do I do?” he asked, desperate for some sort of direction from me.
"Uncle Sorn has packed our hospital bags,” I said. “Thanwa, come support me to the hospital. That’s all I want from you." Not only was I in the throes of labor pains, but I also had to console Thanwa, who was about to become a new father. Women really did need to be strong.
Less than half an hour later, Thanwa and I arrived at the hospital where I’d had my prenatal check-ups, the same hospital where Thanwa worked. He had called my obstetrician an hour earlier to warn them that we were on our way.
The paramedics met us at the car, loading me onto a stretcher before they took me into the prepared delivery room.
Thanwa stayed by my side the whole time, holding my hand like the dutiful husband he was.
Luckily, my labor didn't last long. During the final stage when I was pushing, my cries rang throughout the delivery room, but as soon as the baby was born...
Thud.
I looked away from the squirming infant between my legs to see my husband on the ground. “Hey! Thanwa!” I panted.
Thanwa had fainted and collapsed. The nurses had to call the male paramedics to come help carry Thanwa out to rest, claiming that no amount of medical training could truly prepare a man for the shock of becoming a father.
Thanwa thus missed the chance to cut the umbilical cord.
"Congratulations,” a nurse said. “You have a son. He's so ugly[1], isn't he?" The nurses joked about my son’s apparent ugliness, though I ignored them—to me, he was the most perfect, beautiful little thing I had ever seen. The nurse brought the baby for me to hold even before cutting the umbilical cord and cleaning him.
Just one look at his face, and the image of Manop flashed before my eyes.
"Manop, you kept your promise to stay with me forever, didn't you?" I murmured softly, recalling the story of Manop that I had heard from Dr. Alinda in the months following my awakening. Manop had been able to let go of his grudge after learning that the situation surrounding his accidental death was all a misunderstanding. I was so focused on my own issues with Thanwa that I’d forgotten about my best friend's story until the moment I held my son in the arms and somehow recognized his eyes. But I was happy that he could release his resentment. In the end, Manop came back to me in the form of a forever companion.
From now on, I promise to take good care of you, I swore. Just as you once cared for me.
Soon, the nurses took my son to clean him up and brought him to the nursery. After getting cleaned up and having my stitches tied off, I was sent to the postpartum room where Thanwa was already waiting.
"Aiye, I'm sorry,” he said bashfully. “I didn't think I would faint. Tomorrow, Dr. Mek is going to tease me for sure." Thanwa got up to sit beside me after I settled on the bed.
"Thanwa, there's nothing to be ashamed of,” I said. “You might have been overwhelmed because I'm your wife. Usually, if it's not a family member, there wouldn't be that much pressure. That much at stake. But we are together again, and we have a beautiful son. Just remember that I love you, and I will forever." I gently patted the back of his hand.
We named our firstborn son Ramil.
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Epilogue
Happy family
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When Ramil turned six months old, Thanwa and I took him to the headquarters of the Clear Gang at Siri Hospital— the doctors' lounge in the Recreation Department. Even though I could no longer see or feel the various spirits, I knew they're still there.
"Hello, everyone,” I announced to the seemingly empty room. “It is Aiye. I’ve brought my son to visit. Please help protect Ramil."
"I love you and Ramil, Aiye," Thanwa whispered, kissing the side of my head.
“I love you and Ramil, too, Thanwa."
The two of us stood watching Ramil, who was laughing happily, seemingly waving at people that we could not see yet knew were there, for a while before heading home.
* * *
Baby Ramil raised his hand and babbled as if he were playing and talking to someone as we walked to the car in the hospital parking lot.
"Chief, look at this chubby kid,” Aunt Pranee urged Faye, the new leader of the Clear Gang. “He's so cute. Aiye is so lucky."
"We'll meet again soon, chubby one." Faye held the little one's hand in front of her before kissing his saliva-covered cheek.
In response, Ramil smiled and laughed, and the Clear Gang felt a rush of pride for what Aiye had accomplished.
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[1] In Thai culture, it is believed that when a baby is born, one should say "This baby is ugly" instead of praising the child's cuteness. This superstition stems from the fear that complimenting a newborn might attract evil spirits or bad luck. By stating the baby is ugly, it is thought to discourage malevolent spirits from harming the child. This practice doesn't reflect the parents' true feelings but is merely a cultural tradition to protect the infant.
