Only the "Strong" Survive | Paul Lahote |

*fifty-five*

The day had started out like any other, I woke up in Paul's arms. The warmth of his body making me sweat in the late summer weather, sun streaking through the blinds directly at us. He groaned as I sat up, and took his arm off of my belly, and moved the blanket off of me. I had to pee so bad and didn't want to wake him. As I waddled to the bathroom, I could feel cramping but it wasn't anything worse than what I had felt so I ignored it. Paul quickly appeared in the doorway, his eyes wide at me.

"You didn't wait for my help." He said with his lip out a little bit, pouting.

"I'm fine honey. Literally just across the hall."

He nodded, washing his face in the sink as I finished up before assisting me over to the sink to wash my hands.

"Are you okay?" Paul asked gently, his hand on my lower back.

"Yeah, just crampy. The doctor said it would happen." I reminded him, of the doctor telling us that Wolfie would be settling himself in over the next two weeks. We'd made it, the final stretch. Thirty-eight weeks total, I was constantly having to go to the bathroom, always tired and constantly dehydrated. It felt like no matter how much water I drank, I needed more and then I'd just have to keep running to the bathroom again and again. At this point someone was with me 24/7, someone would come over as Paul left for work and they wouldn't leave until he came back. Before it had been paced, I got some alone time, now, with the risk of me popping out Wolfie at any minute there was no break.

"I'm gonna need you to lose the worried look Lahote." I teased as he laid me down on the couch after I demanded a new change of scenery.

"I can't help it." He said firmly, "I'm going to make you so breakfast."

I nodded my head, holding my stomach as the cramps began to intensify a bit. It wasn't more than I could handle, it wasn't even close to what my periods had been like since I started getting them. Paul brought me some eggs, potatoes and toast and a cup of orange juice. He say with me rubbing my feet as I ate, not saying anything but his eyes intently fixed on my stomach.

"What's up?" I asked as I swallowed the bite in my mouth.

"I'm not sure just a feeling. Are you sure you're okay?" He asked, eyes very intense now.

"Paul, honey, I'm fine. Everything is okay. I'm going to lay on the couch all day, someone will come by and we'll watch funny videos or something. Also you're going to be late for work."

He looked at the clock in his phone and his eyes went wide, scurrying to change clothes Paul rushed to my side giving me a quick kiss on the forehead head and telling me he loved us before he went out the door. I finished my food, and held my cup as I scooted down on the couch to make myself more comfortable. Turning my head to the TV I decided to play some music, this was how I bonded with Wolfie. I'd play different songs I loved and sang along, it was the only way for me to get a reaction from him at all. With Paul, and Leah as we'd learned, he kicked the second they touched my belly but for me he didn't do that. He hardly moves around unless I was talking, or singing at my belly, at him.

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance... I hope you dance...

Wolfie began kicking hard as I sang to him, my hand resting on the lower part of my stomach. My voice felt was soft, embarrassed as I sang even though I was alone in the house. But I knew he heard me, his foot kicked out pressing hard on my hand and an intense wave of pain ran through my abdomen. It went away quickly,  so I kept singing to him.