The Knowing

Some innocence only looks that way

***

Lola unpacked the blankets she brought, focusing on the sweaty, cringing mother before her. It was a routine delivery. 

"One last push...you've almost got it..." she cajoled. 

The woman before her breathed. And shoved at her contracted muscles for the last time.

No sound. 

The baby was in good health. But was quiet. 

The quiet stayed. 

Not.One. Sob. 

Most births ended with noise. This ended with -

A quiet pause. 

***

Lola continued her work, helping little ones meet the world. 

But some births were - awkward. 

Some babies didn't cry at once. 

They paused. 

Then turned their heads to something-unknown. 

Looked. 

And thought.

Paused.

Turned. 

Looked. 

And thought. 

These babies didn't enter the world in silence. They arrived with minds filled with- 

Recognition. 

***

The baby arrived. Still. Quiet. 

No sobs. No movement. Then -

Its head turns to her. 

Lola. 

Its eyes locked onto hers with uncanny, practiced ease. 

A chill coursed through Lola's spine. Fingertips gripped. Refused release. 

Something passed between them.

Unmistakable.

Shared. 

***

The baby turned, silently watching her. Lola jumped, screaming. 

A terrified Lola's hands almost loosened around the baby. Startled, she almost dropped the infant in its crib. 

The baby's silence grew, along with its presence. 

Its eyes fixed on Lola.

Confirming.

***

Then it came to her. These babies knew. 

Long before coming into the world.

She continued her midwife duties.Delivered babies.

One evening. In the delivery room, as usual.

"Come on, one final push..." Her voice rang out sweetly. 

The woman before her contracted her muscles and shoved. 

3...2...1...

No sound. As she expected

She didn't wait for the baby to cry.

Then her voice broke. Loud, infantile sobs. 

The baby wrapped its fingers around hers.  

And smiled, tenderly.

***

Original story by Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin for the International Day of the Midwife. AI tags are coincidental.

For Mikeydred's May Challenge:

Mirrors of the Mind by Michelle Liew is a collection of psychological and supernatural short stories that explore the quiet unease beneath ordinary moments. These are not tales of spectacle, but of subtle fracture — where memory distorts, silence speaks, and the self is not always singular. In these stories, what is unseen often carries the greatest weight, and what lingers is not what is shown, but what is felt.