4MinasLaugh's profile

My face and shirt collar are wet with my tears and slobber. My daughter’s blanket is damp. I’m not really sure if it’s from the watered-down Coca-Cola I threw in Majid’s face or from when, overwhelmed by the pain he inflicted, I lost control of my bladder. A bead of coke drips from Majid’s disheveled hair, rolling down the right lens of his eye glasses. He continues to stare me down, his eyes blinking continuously. “You can leave. But, you can’t take her.” Majid nods towards the 4 lb. infant ...

January 2004 I knew the news wasn’t good. At the age of 25, I was a veteran at predicting bad news in the doctor’s office. When the doctor and his entourage spent too long in the hallway, discussing my x-rays in hushed tones, it was always a bad sign. Majid and I were waiting in a small examination room at the Orthopedic Clinic of Tulane Hospital, New Orleans. Still newly weds married only 7 weeks ago, we were already expecting our first child. The wedding had been planned and carried out on ...

January 2004 I know the news isn’t good. At the age of 25, I’m a veteran at predicting bad news in a doctor’s office. The doctor and his entourage have spent too long standing in the hallway. I hear them discussing my x-rays in hushed tones. Hushed tones combined with abnormally long waits are always a bad sign. Majid and I sit waiting in a small examination room at the Orthopedic Clinic of Tulane Hospital, New Orleans. Still newly weds, we’re already expecting our first child. We were marrie...