Page 58 of One Spicy Summer

Even through the pain, she makes me smile. "Thanks, Ag." She helps me into the car, and we’re off.

At the hospital…

Agatha throws her car into park right at the ER entrance, jumps out, and starts shouting. "Help! My friend’s in labor! We need a wheelchair, stat!" I burst into giggles, even while another contraction hits.

A nurse in midnight-blue scrubs rushes out. "How far apart are the contractions?" she asks, helping me into the chair.

"Two, maybe three minutes," I grit out. "Two centimeters dilated. Water broke."

"Alright, let’s get you inside," she says briskly. "Where are your parents?"

"At work," I lie, though technically it’s half true.

"We’ll need to contact them after delivery," she says, eyeing me skeptically as she wheels me inside.

"Wait!" I cry as they start to roll me away. "I need Agatha!"

"I’m here!" she calls, running up breathless. "Had to move the car, but I’m not going anywhere."

An hour later…

"Push!" Krista, the nurse practitioner, shouts.

Agatha squeezes my hand so hard it’s almost numb. "You’ve got this, babe! Push my nephew outta there!" I bear down, screaming, shaking, feeling like my body is ripping apart.

"I can see his head!" Krista says. "You’re doing amazing. One more big push, okay?" Tears flood my face. I nod.

"You’re almost there! I’m so proud of you!" Agatha cheers.

"PUSH!"

I give it everything. Everything I have left. And then, relief.

"He's out!" Krista cries.

"I did it!" I sob. "Where's my baby? Where is he?"

But...It’s silent.

Too silent.

I lift my head, panic rising. Krista and the nurses are working fast, moving too quickly, shouting things I don’t understand.

"Come on, breathe, baby!"

"What’s wrong? What’s wrong with my baby?!" I scream. Agatha looks just as terrified.

Seconds stretch into agonizing hours. And then Krista’s face crumbles. "I’m so sorry," she says, voice breaking. "He was stillborn. We tried everything, but he was already gone."

"No," I whisper. "No. No. No!" I scream, fighting to sit up.

"Babe, you can’t! You’re still open down there!" Agatha cries, trying to hold me down.

"I don't care! I want my baby!"

The nurses try to stop me. "She needs sedation." "She’ll hemorrhage if we don't get her stitched."

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" I roar, slapping hands away.

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