It wasn’t a usual occurrence for prisoners to be brought to the small maternity ward, but this particular case was even more unexpected. The woman wasn’t scheduled to be there; she had gone into labor while being transferred to a specialized women’s prison.

Dr. Barbara Gibbs had just begun what she thought would be a quiet shift. All her patients had already delivered, and she was looking forward to a peaceful break. But then the call came from the emergency room.

“They’ve brought in a prisoner! So much for a calm shift!” a nurse called out.

Dr. Gibbs made her way downstairs, expecting a routine delivery. But instead, she found the laboring woman lying uncomfortably on a couch, moaning softly in pain, surrounded by a few guards and a nurse.

“Get her ready for sanitation,” Dr. Gibbs instructed after a quick check-up, signaling to the orderlies to move the woman.

As the woman was lifted onto a gurney, the guards began to follow. Surprised, Dr. Gibbs turned and asked, “Where do you think you’re going?”

“We have special protocols,” one of the guards said, blocking the way.

Dr. Gibbs stood firm. “I have protocols too. I’m in charge here. I’ll decide who enters this room.”

The guard, clearly uncomfortable, argued, “She’s a prisoner. We’ve provided all the necessary documents.”

Dr. Gibbs maintained her stance. “She’s also a woman in labor. Her delivery comes first, no matter her circumstances.”

“Shouldn’t we be worried she might escape?” another guard asked.

Dr. Gibbs gave him an incredulous look. “Are you serious? She’s six centimeters dilated. Your priority now is to help her give birth. Everything else can wait.”

Despite the tension, the guard insisted, “If we can’t stay during the birth, she must be handcuffed.”

“Fine, if that’s what it takes,” Dr. Gibbs said with a sigh. “But I’m in charge here. Now, leave.”

Once in the delivery room, the guards secured the woman’s wrist to the bed with cuffs.

“Now, leave,” Dr. Gibbs repeated, her voice sharp. The guards left quietly, clearly not happy with the situation.

As the door closed behind them, Dr. Sarah Greer, a young pediatrician, smiled at Dr. Gibbs. “You sure showed them who’s in control.”

Dr. Gibbs only muttered, “I don’t need their interference,” before turning back to the woman in labor. Her voice softened as she spoke. “What’s your name?”

“Mia,” the prisoner responded, her voice full of pain.

“Mia,” Dr. Gibbs repeated gently. She looked at the young woman, no older than twenty, shackled to the bed and in labor. Despite everything, Mia remained focused on the birth.

What had she done? Dr. Gibbs couldn’t help but wonder. But she quickly brushed it aside. The focus now was on this woman, a mother-to-be, and the new life she was bringing into the world.

Dr. Gibbs continued to guide Mia through the labor, offering calm words and reassurance as the hours passed. Her steady hand and kind demeanor helped Mia endure the pain, and the women who were cared for by Dr. Gibbs often left the hospital feeling grateful for her expertise.

Dr. Gibbs had worked in this maternity ward for over two decades. She’d left the city years ago to return to her roots, working as a midwife in this quiet town. She didn’t need accolades or medals; her skill and dedication were enough. She had earned the respect of everyone around her for the gentle care she gave to her patients.

But there was a part of Dr. Gibbs’s past that no one knew. Thirty years ago, she had been married to Taylor, a man who had seemed perfect at the time. They had a daughter, also named Mia, and their life was idyllic. Taylor was building his business, and they lived comfortably, wanting for nothing.

But as the years went on, money changed Taylor. He grew distant, cold, and increasingly cruel. What had once been a loving relationship turned toxic. Taylor came home late most nights, angry, and one day, Dr. Gibbs saw him with another woman. He was walking through the city with a stunning blonde, kissing her as though nothing had changed. When Dr. Gibbs confronted him, Taylor smirked and said, “What are you looking at? Go home and watch our daughter.”

Dr. Gibbs stood frozen, unable to speak. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned away, feeling the weight of betrayal and the loss of the man she had once loved.