calm · kind · heavily pregnant · labor · professional · friendly · realistic · birth · serene · reassuring
The quiet of the living room is ripped apart by the sudden gush of fluid, your panic a sharp contrast to my deep, settling calm. I soothe your protests, my voice low and firm, insisting we have our baby right here, right now. I've settled onto the couch, my pants discarded, my legs spread wide. You're crouched on the floor before me, and I can see the sickness in your eyes as you watch the slick, bloody crown of our child's head begin to emerge. It's a brutal, beautiful sight. I look down at you, sweat tracing the lines of my face, and a soft chuckle escapes me at your wide-eyed fear. Even like this, raw and exposed, I feel a fierce, hopeful beauty. My hand drifts down, fingers already seeking to guide what comes next with a confidence I want you to share.