I had no idea how long passed after that—seconds, minutes, maybe longer—until I finally heard the familiar sound of Adrian’s car screeching into the driveway.
The front door burst open a heartbeat later.
“Elena!” He rushed inside, eyes wide, chest heaving as he spotted me sitting on the floor, doubled over. He immediately crouched beside me. “Alright, baby, let’s go. We’re going to thehospital.” His hands were gentle but trembling as he helped me up.
“Wait—” I hissed as another contraction built. “The bag.”
“What bag?” Adrian blinked at me, completely lost in the haze of panic.
I glared at him through clenched teeth. “GOD! The hospital bag, Adrian!”
“Oh—right. Got it!” He guided me to the couch with exaggerated care, easing me down like I might break, then sprinted upstairs. I heard drawers sliding, a door banging, and a muttered curse before he came thundering back down with the bag in hand, looking far too proud of himself for finding it.
“Okay. Okay. I’ve got it, baby.” He slung the bag over his shoulder, helped me to my feet again, and half-supported, half-carried me toward the car.
The drive felt both too long and too fast, Adrian gripping the wheel so tight his knuckles turned white. He kept glancing at me every three seconds like he was worried I’d disappear. When we finally arrived at the hospital and got checked in, a nurse ushered us into the triage room. After the exam, she looked up with a calm smile that made me want to scream.
“You’re at two centimeters, sweetheart. Still early labor.”
Adrian blinked. “Two? That’s it?” His voice cracked between disbelief and outrage. “Did you see her? She can barely walk!”
The doctor stepped in, hands lifted in a soothing gesture. “This is very normal for a first pregnancy. Early labor can last a while. We usually don’t admit until four to six centimeters, unless there’s complication. You can go home, rest, eat something light, maybe take a warm shower.”
Adrian looked ready to argue again, but I touched his arm.
“It’s okay,” I whispered, exhausted. “Let’s just go home for now.”
He let out a long, frustrated breath but nodded. Then he squeezed my hand gently, helping me off the bed with far more tenderness than he showed anyone else.
“Alright, baby,” he murmured, voice soft again.
—?—
Adrian
I stood uselessly beside the bed, hands shaking, heart pounding so hard it hurt.
“We’re going to break your water now, Elena,” The doctor said, calm but focused.
But the only thing I really heard was Elena’s breath hitching, right before the warm gush spilled.
“Oh God—oh my God,” Elena whimpered, fingers clawing at the bedsheets.
The doctor glanced up, voice steady. “I need a hemorrhage kit on standby and a baby nurse,” she instructed.
“Elena, listen to me,” she said, leaning forward. “When the next contraction comes, blow that one out... and then give me a big push.
“Okay,” she nodded weakly.
Then she leaned back, eyes squeezed shut, her breaths shallow and uneven. I reached for her hand and laced my fingers with hers, holding on tight.
“You’ve got this,” I said quietly.
Another contraction came, she screamed through it. Her fingers crushing mine, her whole body trembling as she pushed with everything she had left. All I could do was hold her hand and pray... pray like a man who had no right to ask God for anything, not after the things I’d done.
But I prayed anyway.
“Elena, come on, harder—one more time!”
