In the Arms of the Enemy’s Brother
I pulled the blanket up higher, closed my eyes, and let out a slow breath.
Just go back to sleep, I told myself. It's nothing. But then it came again.
This time it wasn't a gentle ache. It was a sharp, grabbing pain that wrapped around my entire lower belly like a fist clenching tight. I gasped, my hand flying to my stomach. The pressure built, hard and unyielding, pressing down like something was pushing against my insides from the inside out. I couldn't breathe for a second. I just lay there, frozen, my fingers digging into my belly, waiting for it to pass.