My contractions were now unbearable. I couldn't even speak through them.

"I just got off the phone with my son he's on his way back." Nelsons mother spoke, she was still here quietly seated across the room.

I didn't say anything. Before he left, we argued about names. He also asked when he was going to be able to keep the baby at his house. I'm over him and his crap.

I grabbed my phone looking at the time knowing Kenzo should be here any minute.

His sisters Jade and Gabbi arrived. They brought flowers and its a girl sign to hang on the door.

"Thank you. This is pretty." I admired the box of flowers.

"This was all Zo, and he told me to give this to you too." Jade handed me my Bible and Chakra stones. "That brother of mine is something else."

"Yes, he is. I wish he'd hurry up." I smiled, looking at everything. I placed my stones on the table beside me and opened up my bible. I had some verses pre-highlighted for today.

My mom stood by my bed, rubbing a wet towel across my forehead. Char was at the end of the bed, messaging my feet and legs, it helped with the blood flow.

Everybody else was seated or standing around the room, making small talk. I continued to read my highlighted passages.

After a little more time passed the door sprung open and in walked Zo. He rushed over to my bedside. I let out a massive sob of relief. He hugged me tightly. I felt like I had been holding my breath the whole time, until now. I can breathe with ease. I feel safe now, and I'm ready to have my baby.

"I made it." He breathed out, smiling at me. He placed his hands on my face gently. "I'm here."

I tugged on his hoodie, grabbing a fist full of it, pulling him toward me. He gazed at me studying my face, then wiped my tears away. He connected our lips tenderly. I released a huge breath of relief.

Our kiss deepened but was quickly interrupted by my next contraction.

"Well, hello." My dad smirked at him. Zo smiled, sheepishly at him.

Zo took his hoodie off and immediately went to work trying to work out my contractions. He sat me up and began pressing down, kneading into my lower back.

Although nothing really could help through the pain, I was feeling. His efforts made me less stressed. Him doing the different techniques he was taught at the birthing classes we attended.

"Breath, baby." He continued rubbing his palms on my bare lower back. I let out a rough groan, humming through the pain. "When was the last time she saw the doctor?"

"He checked her right before your sisters came." My mother spoke while wiping my forehead with the wet cloth. "She's still at seven centimeters, but her contractions are stronger now and back to back.

The door opened and in walked the father of my child yet again. He's been in and out of the room the whole time. I'm tired of the little petty arguments.

Everyone except Zo stared at the door. He nodded as he walked in, bringing his focus to Zo. He walked passed the bed and went over to his mom. Zo didn't even bother to look his way.

I fell asleep while Zo went on to massage my sides. It was late. I didn't even bother waking up when the nurses made their rounds.

I wasn't sure how long I slept, but I did until I couldn't any longer. The pain was so intolerable.

"Ok, Ms. Thompson, let's go ahead and recheck you. Your contractions are very close together now." Dr. Jansen spoke, entering the room. It was now around four o'clock in the morning.

I was in the middle of a contraction, so I just nodded. My crying and shaking were inconsolable. I felt like I needed to push. The urges were making it hard not to. I was scared and in pain.

Everyone moved out of the way except Zo and my mother. They stayed where they were.

"I can't wait any longer. She's coming." I groaned as tears streamed down my face.

He went on to check me to see if I was fully dilated.

"Ok, we need to clear the room, now." Dr. Jansen stared down between my legs. "It's time. Her head's almost out. Everyone who isn't supposed to be in here needs to leave."

He paged the nurses and prepared for delivery. Everyone cleared the room. All except Zo, Nelson, my mom, and Char.

"Ok Adira on the next contraction you push." Dr. Jansen instructed as he adjusted my bed, one of the nurses placed a nasal cannula in my nose. They took off the bottom half of the bed and scooted me down to the edge.

My mom was on one side of me holding one leg, and Zo was on the other side, holding the other. Nelson stood at the foot end, staring at my vagina.

I was in too much pain to care. Although I did catch the smug look on Kenzos face, he didn't say anything.

"Everything will be ok. She'll be in your arms before you know it." Char wiped my face with a cool cloth. She was standing by my head, fanning me.

I nodded, and everyone agreed, my next contraction came, and it was stronger than ever. I wailed out in pain.

"Push baby." Zo gripped my leg, holding it up while watching Dr. Jansens every move. I pushed as hard as I could. Dr. Jansens was making sure I didn't tear, so he had his fingers pressed on my perineum. "I can see her hair Di."

"Ok good, good. Now take a few deep breaths and push again. Another big push." Dr. Jansen praised.

"Her head is almost out Diri, keep pushing baby girl. Mommy's right here, ok." My mom added, and that was the motivation I needed for the next push.

This will all be over soon, and the pain will be worth it.

Nelson stayed frozen in the same spot with a shocked expression, sweating. He was two seconds away from passing out. I'm surprised he has fingers left with the way he chewed up his nails.

I hummed and moaned, taking a breath to push harder on the next contraction.

"Come on push, one, two, three, four, five." Dr. Jansen and the nurses continued. I leaned up and pushed with everything I had.

"Her head is out, wow look at all this hair! —Suction please." Dr. Jansen spoke while blotting and wiping the fluids and blood from around my area and baby's head.

"Ok now give me another push but not so hard this time, she's almost out."

I gave another push, but this one was more painful than the others. I just knew I was tearing. Dr. Jansen did an episiotomy which is a small incision in the perineum to prevent a tear. Due to all the pain, I didn't feel it.

"Ok hold it, a light push for me Adira this is it." Dr. Jansen smiled at me, and so did everyone else. Kenzo leaned in and kissed my forehead.

After a few seconds, I heard a small little cry, my baby girl. Dr. Jansen raised her so I could see.

As soon as she was out, Nelson stood closer, getting a better look at her. I know he was trying to see if he could see any resemblance.

A small smile appeared on his face.

"I'll cut the cord." He announced to Dr. Jansen when he was clamping it off. He showed Nelson where to cut, and he did.

"I'm proud of you baby." Kenzo kissed on my face, bringing his attention to me. "She's perfect."

I gazed at him, smiling as I wiped at his now tear-filled eyes.

My best friend Char went over to my mom to embrace her. They were crying tears of joy.

I pulled my gown down a little off my chest. Dr. Jansen laid baby girl on me while wiping her off. I was able to get a closer look at her little pink face. She was so tiny, but chubby at the same time. Her hair was thick, standing all over her head. I tried smoothing it down, but it didn't help.

She continued to cry, and I was loving hearing that sound. The sound of her letting me know that she's healthy and good to go.

"Congratulations momma," Dr. Jansen smiled at me. He then went back to work. "I need another small push."

I pushed slightly holding on to my baby.

"Whoa, what you do you mean another push?" Nelson panicked, then saw the bloody placenta being delivered. "Nah, what the hell is that?"

He's so damn clueless. He doesn't know the first thing about having a baby. He's missed just about everything up until this point.

"This is the placenta. It's what baby girls been living in for all these months." The nurse informed him.

"Mom where did you put the cooler?" I asked.

"Its right here." She grabbed it and went to wash and glove her hands. She was going to preserve the placenta for me and have capsules made.

"I placed two stitches on the perineum. They'll dissolve." Dr. Jansens stated, he squirted warm water over me cleaning the area, then patted it dry.

"So no tearing?"

"No tearing, you were about to, that's why I went ahead and made the incision."

"Thank you so much." I smiled at the nurses and my doctor as they were cleaning everything up.

The nurse came over across the room to take babygirl to get her measurements and weight. Nelson followed the nurses every move, Kenzo stood up straight so he could see.

"She's seven pounds, nine ounces, and nineteen inches long." The nurses cleaned her off some more, checked her temp, and swaddled her up. Then brought her back over to me.

I stared down at her. She had her eyes open, looking up at me. I didn't even notice that Char had her phone out snapping pictures and recording. I looked a hot mess, but I didn't care.

"Send all those to me, please." I smiled at her. She nodded.

I held her for a little while longer; she was now calm and sleeping away.

"You want to hold her?" I asked Nelson. He was standing awkwardly to himself while we were all gawking over the baby. The nurses and my doctor were out of the room at this point, giving us some privacy with the baby.

He nodded, then walked over to the sink to wash his hands. He came back over. Zo moved out of the way.

"She looks just like me." He mumbled as he reached to get her.

"Cradle her in your arm."

He nodded. "She has my mouth and my nose. She looks just like my baby pictures."

We all stayed quiet as he kept going on about how similar they were.

"Babe Ima' go let everyone know. —And see about getting you some food."

"Ok, thank you so much." We smiled at each other. I knew he was trying to give Nelson some space with his daughter.

I stole another look at Zo before he left out of the room.

Nelson took a seat next to me while holding our baby. Char and my mom decided to give us some privacy by going to the far side of the room by the big window.

"I can't believe you just did this. You pushed our daughter out." He beamed at me, then peered down at our daughter.

"Yeah." I smiled a little unknowingly. I didn't know how to take him, because these last few months have been hell. However, I do need to put things aside. "She's finally here. We have a little girl to raise."

"Yep, and I'm going to be there every step. She'll know her daddy. —She's so beautiful man." He caressed her little finger peeking out of her swaddle.

We had a moment where we stared at her in his arms, taking in everything.

"I want to apologize for doubting you, and for giving you so much trouble. I also want to apologize again for putting my hands on you." He stopped talking to look me in my eyes. I remained quiet. I understood he needed to get this off of his chest.

"I still don't know how I put myself in a position to get that mad. There are no excuses. I want my daughter to be proud of me." His voice shook, he cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, Di."

"Thank you. I appreciate your apology. I want us to be great parents."

"We will."

I decided against saying anything else. I can't think about the past. No matter how much it hurts. I can't dwell on it. I'm a mother now. I don't know how long this will last, us being cordial.

So I'll be quiet and not push my luck.

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