*Rose*

Each contraction brings with it a pain that consumes my entire existence. There is only pain and fear in these moments, and they seem to last forever. I can hear voices around me, but I don't pay any attention to them since I'm trying to concentrate on how I'm feeling.

This can't be right, can it? It should be a few weeks before the babies arrive. What's happening?

The pain disappears, but only temporarily, for only about a minute. I breathe deeply while keeping my eyes closed because I don't want to reconnect with life outside of my body. With the awareness I have, the room might as well...