15Teresa, our new maid (and a close friend of Tilly's), came rushing into the kitchen one day in late August, out of breath and gasping for it. I was seated at the kitchen table, doing my lessons. It took a short while before she had enough breath in her to speak.
"Leslie," she gasped. "Tilly is is labor. She wants you by her side. She begs you to come."
I quickly nodded and grabbed my cotton shawl, then rushed out the door with Teresa. We both ran down the street quick as we could and within minutes reached Tilly and Freddy's small, brick apartment. I rushed up the iron fire escape and went into the windowed kitchen door, where the landlady, the kind Mrs. High, was, boiling some water in a pot on the stove. She motioned me into the bedroom and there was Tilly in bed, the doctor sitting on a chair beside the bed. Sweat covered her gentle face and she was breathing heavily. Outside I could hear Freddy in the parlor pacing loudly.
I grabbed Tilly's hands and she squeezed mine. Her skin was clammy. I looked into her pale, worried face which was twisted in pain. My heart ached for her.
"Leslie," she whispered. "My beautiful Leslie. Thank you for coming to me. You are such a comfort. I hope that if I have a little girl, she will be like you, Leslie. So strong, kind, and understanding."
I started to protest, saying I was none of those things, but instead I said nothing. I just looked into her eyes and stroked her hands. Soon she closed her eyes for a time.
Four hours later, the baby was born. It was a little boy, whom she quickly named Henry, after her Father, who had died when she was two. Henry was very tiny and had trouble breathing, but the doctor cared for him as best he could. Tilly held him only a few seconds before the doctor took him away, promising the heal him and bring him back to his mother's arms.
"Henry's eyes are green," I told Tilly, "and his face is round and his head bald."
She listened intently before weakly crying out in pain. I called for the doctor, who soon came, Freddy in tow. The doctor examined and turned to Freddy and I grimly.
"She will not live," he said, quietly so that Tilly would not hear. Freddy was soon sobbing and I just stared at my dearest Tilly in shock. Tilly couldn't die! She couldn't leave me! I could not live without her!
The doctor led me out of the room, leaving a sobbing Freddy to say his last good-byes to his beloved wife. The doctor explained to Teresa and Mrs. High it would be a miracle if Tilly lived for another hour. Mrs. High was soon on her knees, begging God to spare Tilly. Teresa silently wept and I stared at Tilly's framed black and white photograph which hung on the wall. It had been taken on her wedding day.
I tried my best to block out all the sounds around me. The sounds of sobbing, of Henry crying, of Mrs. High whispering a prayer. Then suddenly I looked at the red face of wailing Henry, who was laying in a basket on a table. I scowled at him. I hated him. Because of him, Tilly was dying. The dearest person in my life was dying!
Just then, Freddy stumbled out, trying to suppress his sobs. It was evident now that Tilly would be leaving us. And we would be alone.
"Leslie," Freddy said, turned towards me. "She wishes to see you, Leslie. Tilly wishes to say good-bye."
I nodded and walked into the room, bravely as I could. She looked paler now, and her breath seemed labored. Once more I took her hands in mine.
"Leslie," she said quietly. "You mean so much to me. You are more than a friend, but a daughter and sister and mother all in one. I love you more than I can describe."
"Oh, Tilly!" I cried, laying my head on her stomach, tears flowing out of my eyes. Then I raised my head to look at her. "Tilly, I love you more than anyone! More than my mother, my father, and my siblings. I would be nothing without you! Thank you for loving me, Tilly. Thank you for comforting me. For making my life livable."
"Trust in God, my Leslie," Tilly weakly said. "He alone will care for you now. He will be your comfort and your strength!"
"Then why is He taking you away from me, Tilly? Why?" I sobbed.
"It is His will, my Leslie. It is all in His plan. You shall someday see."
And with that, her eyes closed and her breathing slowed and then stopped. Any speck of remaining color left her face and her skin went cold. I released my hands from hers and backed away in horror.