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“I don’t know what’s happening,” she said as tears rolled down her chubby cheeks.

“Don’t move,” I instructed.

“It hurts so bad.”

Another pain had to have hit her before I could say anything else because she doubled over.

“AHHH!”

I tried to push myself up off the floor, but my legs did nothing.

“Fuck!”

I slapped my palm against the floor and tried again. Nothing. All those weeks of therapy. All those fucking exercises. Three steps had turned into five. Five had turned into making it across part of the living room. I had been getting stronger, but when my wife needed me, I was on the fucking floor. I could see the fear all over her face. That scared me more than anything.

“Come here,” I said, reaching for her even though there was too much space between us. “Just sit down, baby.”

She blew out a sharp breath and then grabbed tighter onto the framing of the door.

“I need to help you,” she said.

“No the fuck you don’t.”

Another pain tore through her. She screamed and grabbed the doorframe with both hands. That was enough.

“MALIAH!”

My voice carried through the bedroom.

“MALIAH!”

Eternity started crying harder.

“Malik, please…”

“I got you, baby.”

I looked toward the bedroom door.

“MALIAH! GET UP HERE!”

This time, Eternity screamed with me.

“MALIAH!”

MALIAH

I was curled up on the couch beside Tahari while MJ stood at the kitchen island eating what was probably his third piece of cheesecake. I looked at him.

“Didn’t Penelope bring that for everybody?”

MJ took another bite.

“You want some?”

“No.”

“Then mind your business.”