MABELThe contractions were relentless.Three minutes apart. Then two. Then barely any break between them."You're at nine centimeters now," the nurse said. "Almost time to push."Damian held my hand. Wiped my forehead with a cool cloth. "You're doing amazing.""I don't feel amazing. I feel like I'm dying.""You're not dying. You're bringing our daughter into the world."Another contraction. I squeezed his hand so hard he winced."Sorry…""Don't apologize. Squeeze as hard as you need."The doctor came in. Dr. Martinez. She'd been my OB throughout the pregnancy."Alright, Mabel. Let's check your progress." She examined me. "You're at ten centimeters. Fully dilated. Ready to push.""Already?""Fast labor. Your body knows what it's doing." Dr. Martinez positioned herself. "On the next contraction, I want you to push. Hard. Like you're having the biggest bowel movement of your life.""Lovely image.""But accurate. Ready?"The next contraction came. I pushed. Hard. Everything in me focuse
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