Dear Diary! (student/teacher relationship) ~COMPLETE!~

Chapter 39

So here is Chapter 39. I don't think it took so long to update this time. I feel like this chapter is a little longer than they have been. Anyway. Hope you enjoy!

Our midwife, Stephanie, gave a comforting and reassuring smile.

"What you are feeling is known as Braxton hicks," she told me. "They are perfectly normal and not any indication of a problem. It's only your body practicing for when you give birth is all," she explained further.

I was around 30 weeks pregnant when I started feeling pressure and tightening in my stomach. It would come and go and some days I hardly noticed. But still, there were days where it would be really uncomfortable or even painful. I usually had to stand until the feeling passed. After a week of these pains and pressure, I got concerned and we came to see Stephanie.

"Now, when they become regular and frequent, you should start timing them. If you notice them getting more intense and more regular, and you feel four or more in an hour, then you need to get to the hospital as soon as possible, as those could be the real thing. Ok." She continued to explain to us.

"Got it," I replied back, glad to know that I wasn't going into labor too early and now knowing what to look out for.

The next few weeks, I kept a watch on my wrist all the time. I timed the Braxton hicks contractions every time. They didn't usually last long and I didn't get them very often. Every now and then I would have one or two an hour, but they weren't intense. At about 35 weeks, they did become a bit more intense and a little more frequent. I'd have them almost every hour, some were a short and intense and others were longer, but more bearable.

Finally the day came. August the 5th, our wedding day. I prayed that during the ceremony they wouldn't be too intense. I woke up, feeling perfectly fine. No sign that labor was anywhere near. My mom, Cora, and Meg all helped me to get ready and to get my dress on. When they finished with me, they finally allowed me to look in the mirror. My mom had done my hair in a very elegant updo and Cora made my make up look so pretty and so natural; I actually looked like I was glowing from within. I looked down a bit to look at the dress on me.

It was an Impression Bridal dress. It was an A line, halter top with jewels in the shape of a diamond just above my now huge belly. It had a long, lacey train that dragged the floor as I walked. The tiara I wore came from Cora she had worn it for her wedding. I turned and tried to get a view of my back in the mirror. You could see my tattoo that was only partially hidden, but I was fine with that.

I took a deep breath and stared in the mirror. Here I was. I was just 19 years old and I was getting married and having a baby. I could never have imagined that my life would turn out this way, but I wouldn't change a thing. Even the terrible things I went through. Those things made me who I am and they brought me here and I couldn't be happier. I had no regrets at that moment and I was completely at peace. I hadn't even seen the man in the mask for a week, and I felt relieved about that.

"Arielle, we need to go now," my mom said as she walked up behind me, I could see her in the mirror.

I turned to my mom and I hugged her as tears fell down my cheek.

"I'm so glad that you are here mom," I said, "I never thought I'd have you to help me get ready for my wedding, but I do have you. Thank you, mom."

My mom wiped away the tears. Thank God my makeup was waterproof, haha. She took my hand and together we all left the room and got in Meg's car to head to the church.

I stood in the foyer nervously as the bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the aisle Finally, the big doors opened and the organ player began to play the music and I felt a sharp pain in my lower abdomen. I had been feeling that pain a lot that day, but it wasn't so severe, but that one was pretty bad. I waited for the feeling to pass before proceeding to walk down the aisle with my dad. Finally, it was over and I could walk but halfway to the alter, I felt it again, even more intense this time. My dad noticed and he stopped and waited for me to recompose myself. I eventually made it to where Vincent was. There were three steps that led to the alter and I dreaded going up them, but with some help from Vincent and my dad, I made it.