"deep breaths for me darling.. there you go good girl"
Sarah was standing up, leaning against her hands on the edge of the bed, swaying from side to side. It had been two hours since we got to the hospital and there was no progress. Her contractions were getting worse, but not closer together.
"holland I'm in so much pain", she whimpered
"I know honey, I know", I sympathised, grabbing a hair tie, pulling her hair back
"I don't know how much longer I can do this", she breathed
"you're doing amazing darling", I rubbed her lower back "I am so proud of you"
"I want the epidural"
"I know you do darling, let me go ask again"
"okay Sarah let's check you again", I walked back in with a nurse helping her lie down
"please tell me some good news"
"you're still only dilated two centimetres"
"I need the epidural, I want it so bad please", Sarah begged in desperation and pain
"we can only give it once you're four centimetres, I'm sorry. But everything looks fine, vitals are stable, they're just taking their sweet time is all"
"perfect, just what I wanted", Sarah slumped further into the bed
"what can I do princess?"
"get these fucking babies out of me!", she screamed at her stomach
"sweetheart", I sat beside her "it's going to be okay"
"hurry up!"
"oh my love"
"holland it's almost eight go get yourself some food"
"no darling, I'm staying with you"
"trust me you're not going to miss anything, please go, I know you're hungry"
"okay I'll be five minutes", I kissed her gently, leaving the room
'Hi Amanda', I spoke into the line, while making my way back to the room
'holland we are in the absolute worst traffic, there's been a crash on the highway, we're about another two hours away, we haven't missed anything have we?', her voice was in panic
'no she's still only two centimetres, there's plenty of time'
'okay thank god.. no she's still two centimetres.. yeah of course I'll ask.. how is she?'
'she's tired, she keeps screaming at them to get out', I chuckled
'that sounds like Sarah'
'listen, I'm just back at the room, I'll call you later with an update okay?'
'okay, talk later'
"darling you're shivering", I grabbed the extra blankets on my way in, covering her body
"oh I'm getting another contraction", Sarah instinctively took my hand into hers "oh god, oh god, oh god!"
"just breath through it my sweet girl"
the contraction passed about a minute later. Sarah relaxed but she didn't look comfortable
"my whole body hurts honey", Sarah began to sob
"sweetheart, I need you to look at me", I cupped her face in my hands "you're doing what a lot of people can't. Giving birth to two babies is one of hardest things in the world and you are doing so well. I am so proud of you my little angel"
