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“Gia, you are at a plus one. I’m going to get the doctor in here. Then you can start pushing. Okay?” No, ma’am, the fuck it is not okay.
I completely ignore the nurse that, by all apparent observations, is just doing her job. I hate her on principle. It’s not her fault.
It’s Damien’s fault. Damn you, Damien, and your handsome face that shouldn’t be handsome, and your long blonde hair that’s prettier than mine and your willingness to drop everything to be here.
By everything, I mean the Rafferton spring prospect game. Our little girl has impeccable timing. She has since the day she was conceived.
I look back at the man that impregnated me. Another wave of agony hits me. I don’t know how much longer I can do this. I hold my breath and pray for mercy until it passes, and I can direct my rage back at the responsible party.
He’s a vampire. Damien is a vampire. That’s the only explanation I have for what’s happening to my body right now. This baby is half vampire and she’s clawing her way out of my uterus with her vampire fangs leading the charge.
1…2…3…I can breathe again.
“Get this baby out of me, Damien. Get her out. Oh God, my vagina is never going to be the same. Fuck!” I scream every obscenity that I can think of as another wave of pain washes over me.
I must look as feral as I feel because Damien’s eyes widen in fear as he turns back to the nurse.
“She’s fine. We’re totally fine. Please get the doctor. Fast.” He begs.
The nurse strips off her gloves and nods as she heads toward the door. A fucking snail moves faster than this woman.
“I am not fine!” I yell at no one in particular or everyone within a ten-mile radius that can probably hear me. I lost my give-a-damn somewhere around the time they broke my water with an oversized crochet hook.
“Squeeze my hand, Click. Squeeze it as hard as you need to.”
I whimper and Damien slips his hand into mine.
Why is he so nice? Is it out of responsibility? Obligation?
The last five months have been…surprising.
Damien and I moved into a small two-bedroom apartment in a housing unit on campus designated for married students. I didn’t realize that was an option, but I guess Damien knew what he was talking about. A few of the other players on Rafferton’s team live in the same complex. We’re still able to walk to our classes, and Damien can get to the rink by bus.
I built and designed a website myself and have been selling some of my photography online to earn extra income while also attending my classes. Damien works at the rink and is picking up any extra hours he can between school and his regular practices.
He never complains. He does what needs to be done without me asking. Dishes, laundry, taking the trash out – it doesn’t matter. We’re a team. I can admit that I’ve fallen short a few times over the last few months. This pregnancy has been exhausting physically and emotionally. He picks up my slack without question.
But, why?
A cold sweat breaks out over my skin. I think I might be sick.
I squeeze Damien’s fingers with every ounce of strength left in my body, which isn’t much. Okay, judging by the poorly hidden grimace on his face, maybe there was more left than I thought.
I try to hold it in. Really, I do. My body heaves, and I hurl the remnants of last night’s double cheeseburger all over the floor. Well, that’s karma. I knew I shouldn’t have eaten that damn cheeseburger on the way to the hospital.
I will reiterate. Childbirth is not nearly as glamorous as I was led to believe by social media.
“Let’s have this baby!” The door swings open and my overzealous, completely bald, middle-aged, Indian OB walks in with a wide grin.
Like I didn’t just hurl all over the floor.
I normally really like this man, love him actually. He’s been wonderful throughout my entire pregnancy, but I can’t handle his sunny-side-up bedside manner right now.
Doesn’t he see that I’m dying?
How have women been doing this for centuries? The fuck if we don’t get enough credit for populating the world.
The next thirty minutes pass in a blur of blood-curdling screams – mine and Damien’s – and then a new scream, one that changes my life forever.
