Page 94 of Certified Pressure 3
It felt like a cramp at first, but then it got sharper. I frowned and rubbed my belly, thinking maybe the baby was just moving in a weird position, but the pain didn’t stop. It came and went in waves, and each one made my body tighten up.
I grabbed the edge of the bed, trying to stretch out. “Come on, baby,” I whispered. “Don’t start acting up today.”
I eased myself up and started walking around the room, thinking maybe it would help, but it didn’t. The more I moved, the worse it felt. The pain shot through my lower belly and around my back, making me hold on to the dresser for balance.
I took a deep breath and sat back down on the bed, trying to think. I remembered reading that sometimes your body starts having practice contractions before labor, but I was thirty-five weeks pregnant and wasn’t due until another month. There was no way this could be happening now.
Then I felt a sudden warm rush between my legs.
My eyes widened. I looked down, and my heart started pounding. I reached for the sheets and felt the dampness spreading underneath me. For a second, I thought maybe I just peed on myself, but when I stood up, the liquid kept coming.
“Oh my God,” I whispered, grabbing my stomach.
I walked fast toward the bathroom, holding on to the wall the whole way. Every step made my back hurt worse. When I got inside, I flipped on the light and sat down on the toilet, trying to figure out what was happening. The leaking didn’t stop. It wasn’t like I was peeing. It was just… flowing.
Confused, I wiped, and stared at the tissue. It was clear. It wasn’t blood, but it wouldn’t stop. My stomach started tightening again, this time stronger, pulling through my lower abdomen like my body was warning me that something was coming whether I was ready or not.
I leaned forward, holding my belly, trying not to panic. “No, not today,” I whispered. “Please not today.”
My mind started racing. I thought about everything I had read, everything Treasure told me about pregnancy and all those doctor appointments and notes about what to look out for. I remembered her saying that if your water breaks, you’ll know because it won’t stop leaking.
It hit me all at once.
My water broke…
I stared at the floor, my heart pounding so loud I could hear it in my ears. This wasn’t supposed to happen yet. The baby wasn’t due until next month. I wasn’t ready. None of this was supposed to happen today.
I grabbed my phone off the sink and stared at the screen, my hands shaking. The first name that came to my mind was Pressure. I hesitated, knowing where he probably was right now; standing in front of a church full of people, about to marry somebody else while his baby mama’s water was breaking.
Tears filled my eyes again. I wanted to throw the phone. Instead, I sat there on the toilet, clutching my stomach, feeling another cramp roll through my body.
This couldn’t be real.
The Holy Crown Temple
Istood at the altar feelin like my heart was tryin to beat its way out my chest. The whole church smelled like roses and money, and all I could think about was how crazy this shit was. My tux was cream and fitted right, and I was clean from the shirt to the shoes. The gold cufflinks matched the Rolex on my wrist. Everything was simple but fly. I looked the part, but inside I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Kay’Lo was next to me, lookin’ like this was a regular day. Renza was on the other side, fixin his cufflinks and whisperin to Blaqson about somethin I ain’t even catch. They was chillin’, andtalkin’ like this wasn’t the biggest day of my life. I tried to smile but my mind wasn’t here.
The crowd was full. My whole family showed up, cousins, uncles, aunties and old folks from Trill-Land I ain’t seen since I was a kid. They was all dressed up with they phones out, ready to see me say “I do.” I glanced down at the front row and caught my mama starin’ right at me. She had that look that let me know she wasn’t pleased. Her face said everything she didn’t have to. She was proud of me but disappointed all at once, like she already knew I ain’t belong here. My pops was sittin beside her with his shoulders back, quiet, and watchin’ everything. He didn’t have to say a word. Just the way he looked at me said enough.
I swallowed hard and adjusted my collar. The closer I got to that moment, the more my chest burned. I thought about last night, and Pluto’s skin under my hands. I thought about the way her belly moved when my son kicked. That shit was eatin’ at me. I could smell her scent if I focused too long. I could still hear her voice when she told me to leave before Zurie woke up.
Everybody was probably thinkin’ I was nervous about gettin married, but I was sick ‘cause I already knew I was lyin to myself.
The music switched and the whole room stood up. The doors opened slow, and Kashmere stepped in. Her daddy was walkin’ beside her, and she looked happy as hell. Her gown was beautiful, long and glittered like it was dipped in diamonds. She was smilin’, tryin’ not to cry, and all eyes was on her. She was lookin’ at me like I was the man of her dreams, but I felt like the worst nigga alive.
My heart started beatin’ even harder, and my fingers kept twitchin’ by my side. Kay’Lo leaned toward me and whispered, “Shit gettin’ real, Cuz,” but I barely heard him. My ears was ringin’. My mind was stuck on how wrong this shit felt.
When Kashmere got close, her eyes was already glassy. I couldn’t even be fake and smile. She reached the front, and herdaddy kissed her cheek before handin’ her off. I nodded at him and shook his hand, then took hers. Her fingers was shakin’. Mine was too.
The pastor started talkin’ about love and commitment, about vows and faith, and every word felt heavier than the last. I couldn’t even look Kashmere in the eyes for too long ‘cause every time I did, I saw Pluto’s face behind her.
I was barely listenin’ when I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I tried to ignore it, but it buzzed again. I shifted a little, tryna act like I was scratchin’ my leg, and pulled it out slow to check.
When I saw it was Pluto, my heart dropped. She never called me durin’ no random time like this. My stomach knotted up. I looked down at her name flashin’ on the screen and the whole church disappeared for a second. I could hear the pastor’s voice, but it sounded far away.
I hit the side button to silence it and shoved it back in my pocket, but before I could put it all the way away, a text popped up.
