Page 144 of Such Sharp Teeth

Mom rubs Scarlett’s back. “It’s all right. Breathe. Breathe.”

I’ve been in this chair for I don’t know how long. I’ve lost all sense of time. I’ve managed to soak through this sweatshirt as well. I lift my arms to find epic pit stains. Under my hat, my hair is wet and matted to my head. I oscillate between hot and cold. I chug water, hoping to flush the wolfsbane out. The dizziness comes and goes. It’s making all this so surreal.

Nurses come in and out.

“Almost there!” they keep saying.

I made the mistake of asking one, “How long do these things usually take?”

I didn’t get an answer.

“Rory,” Scarlett says. “I want Rory.”

I stand up and shuffle over.

“Just Rory,” she says.

“You heard her,” I say, gently elbowing Mom out of the way.

“I’ll get more ice,” Matty says.

“I’m going to use the bathroom,” Mom announces for some reason. She opens the door, then closes it very slowly, adding, “I’ll only be a minute, Scarlett honey. I’ll be right here.”

“Quick, give birth now while Mom’s on the toilet!”

I offer her my hand.

“Why are you wearing gloves?”

“Because fashion,” I say. “Obviously.”

“I don’t like this,” she says through tears.

“No? Not a fan?”

She cracks a smile, but it quickly vanishes. “I’m scared.”

“If I could, I’d do it for you,” I tell her. “I mean it.”

Her smile returns. “You’re such a liar.”

“I’m not! I really would.”

She lets out a sob.

“I keep thinking about the video,” she says. “Of you in the distillery.”

“Hey, don’t think about that now, all right?”

“I’m not tough,” she says. “I’m not like you. I can’t do this, Rory. I’m too scared.”

She buries her face in the pillow.

I want to tell her that she has nothing to be afraid of, but I can’t. Because this is scary. And if anyone knows scary, it’s me.

I sweep some stray hairs off her face.

Mom comes out of the bathroom.