Chapter 42 - Chapter 41

With each contraction came a pain that dominated Alexandra's entire being. In those moments, for those seconds that stretched into infinity, there was nothing else. She could hear screaming from other rooms, yet she made no sound at all. When the pain passed it was only for a minute or so and she breathed with closed eyes, unwilling to re-engage with life outside of her own body. The room might as well have been empty for all the awareness she had, and when they did talk, touch, gain her attention she found it so hard. To reply she had to find herself from the deepest recess of her own mind and drag herself forward, to use her voice, open her eyes. The doctor was telling her that it was time, time to push, again. With a guttural grunt she did so and was told to stop, one was enough. She felt the baby crowning, the hot stretching of flesh, and held her breath. She could feel her consciousness being drawn from her body and for a moment, there was no breath at all.