Page 80 of Flawed

I continue to wince in pain.

My mother runs into the room. "Ma chérie, are you okay?"

Another intense cramp hits me. I whine, "Oh God. Not again."

"You're in labor," Mom insists.

I shake my head. "No. They're the Braxton Hicks. I still have a few weeks."

My parents exchange a worried glance. My mom states, "Better to go get checked out."

"No. I've gone three times. This is the same as—" My breath gets stolen as pain more intense than I can remember hits me. But then again, every time I have these Braxton Hicks, it seems more intense than the last time.

"Breathe," Mom orders, going through the breathing exercises we learned in the Lamaze class.

I try to mimic her, but the pain gets worse and worse.

"Let's go sit down," my father directs, steering me into the family room.

I get halfway to the couch when my pants turn wet. Horrified, I cry out, "I peed my pants!"

"No! Your water just broke. We need to get you to the hospital," Mom informs me.

"What? No! It's too early! I'm not due yet!" I assert.

"You're fine. It's not too early," she claims.

"Yes, it is! She's supposed—" Another sharp contraction hits me. I declare, "My uterus is going to fall out!"

My father asks, "Sophia. Where are the car keys?"

"In my purse. The baby's clothes aren't washed!" she frets.

"We'll do it later. Keys, Sophia," Dad sternly orders.

My parents race around the apartment, grabbing my overnight bag and my mom's purse. I sit on the couch, trying my best not to completely melt down.

What if she comes before I get to the hospital?

Is it too early?

My parents have me out the door and in their car within minutes. Dad drives while Mom sits in the backseat with me.

"Pierre, go faster," she demands.

"Sophia, there's traffic," he replies.

I glance out the window for the first time. It's Saturday night, and New York City is bustling like normal.

Traffic becomes heavier. We stop at a stoplight, and my breath gets stolen again. More pains hit me, but this time it's my heart. New tears fall.

Luca gets out of his red Viper. He approaches a group of people standing outside a new Italian restaurant.

Seeing him hurts more than I anticipated. I've tried my best to forget him, even though I know it's an impossible quest.

I'm having his baby.

It seems like a cruel punishment for the universe to put him in front of me while I'm in labor. I'm tempted to roll down the window and beg him to get in the car. But then another blow hits me.

---