“Spending time with you showed me what I’ve been missing in my life.”

 

I drove to the Birth Centre Yuri works at. Min Ho had given me a quick direction on how to get there, but Yuri had to keep reminding me before I made every turn throughout the journey since I wasn’t familiar with the city. Like all movie victims, I thought having a baby only involves first contraction, crazy race to the hospital, and lo’ and behold, baby’s here. But Amber had gone through so many contractions during the twenty-minute car trip, not to mention those other ones since she woke up at one o’clock. I couldn’t even count how many during that torturing ride.   Anxiety and fear kept stabbing me in the gut as Amber went through her pain on the back seat with Yuri repeating to her to keep breathing, to control and focus on her breathing. Her tear-drenched face was something I decided I wouldn’t want to look at in the future.   “Yuri,” Amber said, after the umpteenth contraction left. “Is this normal? I keep having this stabbing pain on my pubic bone.” She exhaled sharply, her expression grim. “It’s like being stabbed by a knife.”   Yuri’s next words didn’t only shake Amber, but me as well. “It’s your contraction pain, Amber. I’m afraid you’ll have to go through it until this is all over.”

 

∞∞∞

 

 

 

Eww… these two need to get a room!   As I stood there outside the birthing room, I had Yuri’s phone in my hand while she examined Amber inside. I didn’t know if she knew that I needed some emotional support, but whatever her reason was, I was grateful she gave it to me, though the only available support came from my number one enemy. I was desperate!

 

 

I knew he wasn’t happy, but he must be reminded that I was born to make his life miserable.

 

  

    

 

“How is she, Yul?” I asked, worried beyond limit.   “Her water broke after I examined her. She’s seven centimetres at the moment.” She reassured me with a wide smile, “She’s going well. Three more centimetres before she can push.”   What the hell does that mean?   She seemed to note the confusion on my face and explained, “You know the bag of fluid surrounding the baby?” I nodded, things from high school Biology popped into my head. I liked the fact that she didn’t explain in a condescending way, but more in a way as if she was just sharing. “It broke just after I examined her, and the pathway for the baby to go through is seven centimetres open. We’ll just wait until it gets to ten.”   “Oh. Will the baby be born soon since the water has broken?” Scenes from movies like the Baby Mama, I Love Lucy, and those other ones came into my mind.   “Not any second from now,” Yuri said, disproving my previous notion about labour. “When her water’s broken, it just means things will progress faster.” I nodded, taking it all in. “I’m going to get Amber’s notes. She’s in the bath, stay with her and remind her to keep drinking okay,” Yuri notified me, smile intact and as calm as ever.   How the hell could she be so calm?!   Wait! Did she just say “in the bath”? What the hell is Amber doing in the bath?   I dragged my feet and entered the room to darkness. The only light source came from a yellow lamp on the night stand and the one from the bathroom. I thought I heard a yelp, then movements of water before sounds of troubled panting. I walked over to the bathroom door to see a light blue gown, the birth centre’s gown, on the tiled bathroom floor. Amber was in a big bath full of water. She had her back to me and didn’t see me. Her hair was put up with a hair pin, some strands were lying on the side of her face. Her eyes were close as she took a deep breath… and exhaled. She repeated the whole procedure until the contraction died down and her breathing stabilised. She straightened up and leaned back. A moment later, she shifted in the water and I realised she was about to get out of the bath. I quickly stepped away to the wall next to me, so she wouldn’t see me. I simply didn’t know what to do, which was why I couldn’t face her. Yet.   When I peeked into the door to see what she was doing, I caught a glimpse of her: her enticing derriere, the mounds on her chest, and the inward curve of her lower back as the swelling jutted at the front. It was like a letter S with a bump. She is massive, that was