“Breathe through it, pant like Marda showed you.” Colton’s hands are on me, but I try and blot out the world by closing my eyes and focusing on the agony that’s ripping me up inside. I didn’t know what I expected childbirth to feel like, but this wasn’t it. There’s nothing to describe how much it hurts.

“Should I tell my mom to make their way to the valley? Do you want them here? What about your dad? I have the contact number to have him travel here tonight.” Colton can only talk at me while stroking my hair, empathizing what he can see me experiencing. The pain of childbirth...