Page 94 of A Seed Of Peril

“Look at me,” he said in a more serious instead of hopeless undertone. “You’re almost there, but you need to find your fire and deliver our son.”

“Fuck you!” I spat, angry at the world.

“I know you’re in pain, and I know this is tough?—”

“You don’t know shit!”

“I know this is tough,” Dominic tried again, “but you need to dig down deep,Bellissima. You need to push. We’re all counting on you. Vincenzo needs you.”

I gasped for air like it was sucked clean out of my lungs. As a gigantic contraction hit, so did a new ripping sensation in my uterus. “Help me!” I arched back, feverishly grasping for and tugging anywhere I could on Dominic. “It’s happening again; he’s tearing me apart!”

“Push, Lilith!” Julie hollered, fear in her voice.

I began to sob uncontrollably, realizing there was no other way out of this nightmare. I started to climb away again, but I was held down this time, preventing me from going anywhere. I jerked from side to side. “It hurts so much!” I screamed as one of our other nurses in attendance leaned over to push on my belly. Right then, I finally found my fire. I ditched everyone and everything and grabbed firmly onto the bed rails, lifting myself once again and bearing down as hard as physically possible.

“Good job, Lilith,” Julie cheered.

Intense pressure pushed and grinded against my pubic bone. Julie mumbled something to Amy, and her and another nurse began to spread my legs further apart and bring my knees even closer to my chest. The pressure from the motion was borderline unbearable. “Stop it!” I cried out, frantically trying to shove everyone’s hands out of the way.

“Hold her legs,” Julie instructed.

“Please just tell me what’s happening,” I begged, breathing labored and erratic.

“Shoulder Dystocia,” was all Julie said. I looked to the nurse next to me for answers.

“He’s stuck,” Julie answered for her. “His shoulders are broad, and we’re having a hard time getting him out. Just focus. Don’t quit now. You’re so close.”

Rolling my head away from Julie, I looked at Dominic, grabbed his tie, and yanked him toward me as I pushed with what strength I had left.

I screamed as I felt Julie reach up inside of me.

Time stood still, losing all meaning as the cycle went on: push, breathe, push, breathe. I didn’t know how much longer I could continue on like this.

This should have been exciting. This should have been like I saw in the movies and on TV where the husband or partner cooed and cheered on his mate as she gently guided their unborn child into the world. But that wasn’tmyreality. And it hurt worse than any physical pain.

As I pushed, the pain and pressure somehow finally started to ease.Maybe this was it? Maybe I was about to meet our son?

I was too tired to scream anymore.

Vincenzo’s shoulder rubbed against my pubic bone, and I gasped when I felt it slip out.

“It hurts,” I grunted, exhausted.

“He’s almost out,” Julie informed us. “Just one or two more big pushes, and he’ll be here.”

Please come out, baby boy, I thought as I stood right before the finishing line.I’ve held you and carried you and pushed you out long enough. It’s time. It’s time to come out and see all of us.

Another intense contraction steamrolled through me, and all I did was groan. I let go of Dominic’s tie and instead grabbed a piece of his shirt, crying and trembling.

“I need you, Dominic,” I whimpered, pleading with him through my gaze to understand what I needed.

He understood the assignment.

Tears escaping his eyes, Dominic wrapped his arm around behind my back, still holding my hand. He leaned in and kissed my face.

“I’m here.” He moved hair away from my face. “You can do this,Bellissima. Please push. For me and for our son.” Dominic lifted and adjusted me better against the bed.

I held onto the rail.

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