The Princess and the Greek God

18 Now or Never

Breathe! All you have to do now is go out there and tell Nadav, then you’ll be on your way to the hospital.

 

Oh, but the speech is just going to take a few more minutes, right?

Right. A few more minutes. I’ll wait for Nadav to finish his speech and then I’ll tell him. It would have sounded so easy to do when there are no contractions involved…

I managed to walk a few feet before another contraction hit me like a freight train. Pain wreaked havoc on my lower belly, especially my back.

Breathing did not help!!!

As soon as the pain subsided, I continued to walk towards the exit that led to the garden while holding my lower belly with my left hand. Suddenly it felt like I was carrying a ton of weights inside me instead of babies. Every step I took was agonizingly difficult.

Why is it that every time I’m about to open a door a contraction starts?

Like every five minutes?

 

The alarm siren in my head blared even louder.

I can hear Nadav speaking now. But if I’m not mistaken, he’s just halfway through his speech. Can I still manage to hold on that long?

Yes. You made it up to here, all you have to do now is to get to your designated table, take a seat and pretend everything is just peachy.

 

“What took you so long? I was about to launch a search and rescue operation…everything alright?” Vic asked and all I had to do was nod and give him a simple smile to avoid any suspicions from him. Still, he studied me for the longest time, looking at me from head to foot.

Please, no contractions until I sit down…please…

 

Sitting down wasn’t the best idea when my water just broke and I’m all wet down there. Just a few minutes more…

I managed to get over two more contractions, gripping the arm rest on the chair and holding my breath like my life depended on it when pain shot through my body. It’s almost over…Nadav’s speech is almost over. Victoria Tsai, move over. You’ve got competition.

“Lastly, I would like to thank…” I listened to Nadav’s last sentence in his speech, when another contraction came, much stronger than the last ones. “…for his tremendous-“

“CRAP!!!”

I screamed, finally giving in to the pain that I endured for the last twenty minutes or so. I screamed so loud that every head turned to my direction as I grabbed Vic’s arm and squeezed the life out of it, cutting most of the circulation in his right arm.

I heard Vic curse out loud as people gathered near us. I don’t hear Nadav’s voice anymore…where is he?!

“Isla!” Vic said in alarm as he repeatedly told me to breathe. Oh, that breathing crap again. “Breathe, honey, breathe!” he gently coaxed me as I grunted when the pain lasted longer this time.

“Breathe your…ass!”

“Isla!!!” It was Nadav. He rushed towards me in an almost panicked state. “Doc, what happened?”

“I don’t know. She suddenly screamed and…she’s probably having contractions while you’re on the stage and she didn’t tell me…”

I was every kind of wet now – I was sweating, crying from the sudden unbearable pain and yeah, let’s not forget I’m sopping wet down there.