A dull ache begins in my lower abdomen in less than a minute.

Oh god.

I pick up my phone. I need to call Jason now.

I dial, but he doesn’t pick up. The pain comes again, sharper this time. I bite my lip. My breathing is loud, and the wheezing sounds are the only sounds in the room.

I dial Jason’s number again. He picks this time.

“Hey babe. How are you?”

“The baby. It’s coming?”

“What? Who’s with you?”

“Richard. He went to get Mom.”

“Have Richard text me the address of the hospital once you’re on your way. I’ll leave immediately.”

“Mmm.” That’s the most I can utter as the pain enlarges, spreading to my back.

Richard barges in with Bertha.

“Let’s go!” Bertha says. “I’ll get the bags. Richard, help her down the stairs.”

She turns to me.

“Did you already call Jason?”

I nod and look at Richard. “He said to text the hospital address.”

“Okay. We’re going to Dr. Jackie’s.”

Putting his arms under my armpit, he helps me up. My hand rests on his shoulder.

“Careful,” Bertha says, picking up the already packed bags.

As we make our way downstairs, the pain morphs into a monster. This monster doesn’t play fair. It ravages my legs and waist, making the staircase journey painful.

Finally, we make it out of the house and into the car, speeding off to Dr. Jackie’s hospital.

I keep zoning out on the way, but the horns stir me back until we get to the hospital. Everything else is chaos and pain. I’m wheeled to the labor room, and everything commences. There are voices in the labor room. One sounds like Jackie, and the other like Jason. Someone holds my hands.

“Hang in there, Baby.”

Okay, that’s Jason.

“Fiona, it’s Jackie. Can you hear me? You have to push. Can you do that?”

I do, but the excruciating tear between my legs makes me shudder. I let out a piercing scream.

Am I going to die? What’s that pain? Is this how birth feels? Is this normal?

I try a few more times, with Jackie urging me on. Finally, a shrill cry fills the air. The baby’s out.

“Oh wait, there’s another!”

Another what? Baby?