“Okay…” I whispered to myself, rubbing soft circles over it while I tried to breathe through it.
I wasn’t new to this. This wasn’t my first time giving birth, so I knew what contractions felt like, and even though everypregnancy was different, my body was telling me something right now.
I glanced over at Pressure. He was still laid out beside me, knocked out and for a second, I just watched him. His chest was rising slow, his face relaxed, and I couldn’t help but smile a little.
I didn’t wanna wake him yet, until I knew for sure I was in labor.
I stayed quiet and sat here, rubbing my stomach through my silk gown while I counted in my head, waiting to see how long it took before the next contraction hit. When it came again, tighter this time and harder to ignore, I pressed my lips together and exhaled slow through my nose, nodding to myself.
“Okay… yeah…”
I eased myself out the bed carefully, moving slow so I wouldn’t disturb Pressure, and made my way into the bathroom. I flicked the light on low before I closed the door halfway. The tile was cool under my feet, and for a second, I stood here, holding my stomach while another wave rolled through me.
It wasn’t unbearable, but it was strong enough to let me know this wasn’t a false alarm.
I moved over to the tub and started running the water, keeping it warm while I braced my hands against the edge and let another contraction pass through me.
Once it eased up, I straightened and reached for the things I had already set aside weeks ago, moving slower this time and paying attention to my body instead of rushing. Everything was right where I needed it, just like Auntie Treasure had shown me, and that alone kept me calm.
I laid the towels out where I could reach them easy, then leaned against the counter for a second when another contraction hit, pressing my hand deeper into my belly while I closed my eyes and let it pass.
“Alright…” I whispered once it eased up. “We good.”
I picked my phone up and called Auntie Treasure.
She answered on the second ring, her voice soft and calm like she already knew I wouldn’t be calling her this late for nothin’.
“Hey, sweetie. Is everything okay?”
I smiled a little at that, even though I was still breathing through the pressure in my stomach.
“I think… I think it’s time,” I told her, keeping my voice low so it wouldn’t carry into the bedroom.
She didn’t rush me or start talking fast. She just asked me questions, really gentle. She asked me how far apart the contractions were, how they felt, if I could still talk through them, and when I answered her, I could hear the shift in her tone.
“I’m on my way,” she said. “You stay calm, alright? I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay,” I replied softly.
After we hung up, I stood there for a second, looking at myself in the mirror while my hand stayed on my stomach.
This was really happening again…
I took a breath, then turned the water down a little before I made my way back into the bedroom.
Pressure still hadn’t moved.
I climbed back into bed beside him and slid close, my body instinctively finding his warmth, and I reached up to his face, running my fingers over his beard slowly.
“Pressure, baby…” I whispered, but he didn’t move.
I smiled and leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. They were warm, just like I knew they would be.
“Baby…” I tried again, my voice a little more firm this time.
I took his arm and pulled it up against my chest, holding it while I pressed a kiss to the back of his hand, and right then, another contraction hit me. It was stronger than the last.
I squeezed his hand without thinking, and that’s what made him shift. He moved a little, letting out a low sound, and I rubbed my hand over his face again.
