Sohalia
Your little hand's wrapped around my finger And it's so quiet in the world tonight
False contractions were, the way Soh understood it, to be expected during pregnancy. But if they were so common, then how was one to know when they became real?
When she first noticed the contractions on one chilly evening a few weeks after LongNight ended, she at first deigned to ignore them. After all, they probably weren’t real. She went to bed as usual, but she slept poorly, waking often as yet another contraction interrupted her attempts at slumber. She rolled from one side to another, avoiding laying on her back for fear it could compromise blood flow and unable to lay on her stomach for obvious reasons. But neither side made her more comfortable, and eventually, she realized that the contractions seemed to be strengthening and growing closer together.
”Zav?” she murmured into the dark, reaching to brush a hand along her boyfriend’s shoulder. A new contraction hit, and she winced, heart rate spiking, but there was no fear to it. Only a sort of excited resignation.
It was time.
”Are you awake?” she asked, trying to stay calm despite the fluttering in her chest. Their daughter seemed to shift and turn, and Soh smoothed a soothing hand over her stomach to quiet the as-yet-unborn child. Fortunately, they’d been prepared for just this eventuality. Bags had been packed; they were ready to make their way to the hospital. Or they would be, if Reva gave them the opportunity. Already, by Soh’s calculation, she’d been in early labor for several hours. What would they do if they didn’t make it to the hospital?
Soh felt doubt and trepidation begin to creep in just as another contraction hit, this one strong enough to have her teeth clenching in pain. What if she went into active labor in the street? Maybe they should send a companion to fetch a doctor and just stay here. Riding out the contraction, Soh tried to remind herself to breath and failed. Instead, in the brief moment between her question and Zavien’s attention, he would find her almost hyperventilating.
When she first noticed the contractions on one chilly evening a few weeks after LongNight ended, she at first deigned to ignore them. After all, they probably weren’t real. She went to bed as usual, but she slept poorly, waking often as yet another contraction interrupted her attempts at slumber. She rolled from one side to another, avoiding laying on her back for fear it could compromise blood flow and unable to lay on her stomach for obvious reasons. But neither side made her more comfortable, and eventually, she realized that the contractions seemed to be strengthening and growing closer together.
”Zav?” she murmured into the dark, reaching to brush a hand along her boyfriend’s shoulder. A new contraction hit, and she winced, heart rate spiking, but there was no fear to it. Only a sort of excited resignation.
It was time.
”Are you awake?” she asked, trying to stay calm despite the fluttering in her chest. Their daughter seemed to shift and turn, and Soh smoothed a soothing hand over her stomach to quiet the as-yet-unborn child. Fortunately, they’d been prepared for just this eventuality. Bags had been packed; they were ready to make their way to the hospital. Or they would be, if Reva gave them the opportunity. Already, by Soh’s calculation, she’d been in early labor for several hours. What would they do if they didn’t make it to the hospital?
Soh felt doubt and trepidation begin to creep in just as another contraction hit, this one strong enough to have her teeth clenching in pain. What if she went into active labor in the street? Maybe they should send a companion to fetch a doctor and just stay here. Riding out the contraction, Soh tried to remind herself to breath and failed. Instead, in the brief moment between her question and Zavien’s attention, he would find her almost hyperventilating.
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreamin' So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sohalia.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sohalia.
