Shattered Trust

Ch.29: The Unpredictable Arrival

The morning light streamed through the curtains of the apartment as Madison, Emily, Liam, and Sarah quietly gathered around Claire's bed, their excitement barely contained. They exchanged eager glances before Sarah leaned in and gently shook Claire awake.

"Good morning, mama-to-be," Sarah whispered, her voice filled with anticipation.

Claire stirred, blinking her eyes open to see the beaming faces of her closest friends and Liam standing beside them, grinning.

"W-what's going on?" Claire mumbled, still groggy from sleep.

"It's the day, Claire! Today's your due date!" Emily burst out, unable to hold back her excitement any longer.

Claire's eyes widened as the realization hit her. "Oh my God, it's really happening today?"

Madison chuckled, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Yup! We're all ready, and so are you."

Liam leaned down to kiss her forehead, his eyes glowing with pride and love. "You're going to meet Marie Li today."

A nervous but excited smile spread across Claire's face. She had been preparing for this moment for months, but now that it was finally here, a rush of emotions overwhelmed her. It was a mixture of joy, nerves, and a tinge of fear, but her friends and Liam were there, and that gave her strength.

After a quick breakfast and some time to gather their thoughts, they decided to make the morning productive by practicing the birth exercises Claire had been taught. Emily grabbed a yoga mat, and they all settled into the living room, turning the apartment into a makeshift birthing class.

They spent the next hour chatting, joking, and going through the exercises-breathing, gentle stretches, and calming movements to ease Claire's body into labor. Every now and then, one of them would crack a joke to lighten the mood, but underneath the laughter, there was a palpable sense of anticipation.

Halfway through one of the breathing exercises, Claire paused, her hand going to her belly as she felt a sharp cramp. She winced, trying to focus on her breathing, but this time, the contraction felt different-deeper, stronger.

Sarah noticed the change in her expression immediately. "Claire? You okay?"

"I-I think..." Claire started, her voice shaky. Another contraction hit her, and this time, it left her breathless. "I think it's time."

The room fell silent for a moment as everyone processed her words. Then, a flurry of movement followed.

"Get the hospital bag!" Madison shouted as she jumped to her feet. Emily grabbed her phone and keys, while Liam moved to Claire's side, helping her up carefully.

"Breathe, Claire," Liam said softly, guiding her through the contractions. "We've got this."

They all piled into the car, Liam driving while the others did their best to keep Claire calm. The drive to the hospital felt long, too long, especially as the contractions grew more frequent and intense.

Claire's breathing became more labored, her grip tightening on Liam's hand. Sweat dotted her forehead, and the panic in her chest began to rise. "Liam... something feels different. I don't know if I can wait."

Sarah, who was sitting in the backseat with Claire, tried to keep her calm. "We're almost there, Claire. Just hang in there."

But then, a sudden gush of fluid filled the car, and Claire gasped. "My water just broke!"

Panic rippled through the car as they realized they might not make it to the hospital in time. "We need to pull over," Sarah said quickly. "Claire, I think you're in labor. We might have to do this here."