The pain came like a wave—sharp, sudden, and all-consuming.
I was in our room when it started. One moment, I was folding tiny clothes. The next, I was holding the bedpost, crying out as something inside me shifted.
Darius was there in seconds. He didn't say a word. He didn't need to. He wrapped his arms around me and called for the healer.
I could barely breathe between the contractions.
"She's coming," I whispered.
Darius's eyes widened, but he nodded. "Then we'll bring her into the world together."
The healers moved fast. They cleared the space, lit soft lanterns, and laid down clean blankets. Someone brought warm water. Another brought calming herbs, but I waved them away.
I wanted to feel it all.
The pain.
The weight.
The birth of my daughter.
---
It felt like forever.
