Her body shivered as she heavily panted. Beads of sweat adorned her forehead and plastered some of her hair onto her face as yet again she took a sharp breath, hopelessly trying to lessen the piercing blade of another contraction. Her hand placed firmly on her large stomach, she held her breath as another wave of severe pain shook her core. Slowly it passed, she exhaled loudly yet insecurely, the air leaving her lips in stutters, her eyes closed shut as she gave herself to those few moments before another contraction seized her lower abdomen. Shamelessly, the pain started idle, and she knew that in seconds it would grow to be electrifying. She groaned inwardly and desperately pressed both of her hands to her head, perhaps another pain would override what was surely to come. As it grew strong, the pressure on her head increased, a breath caught somewhere in her lungs, she felt a claw-like grip rip her spine and she yelped silently; it would be wise to remain quiet, she thought. Taking a break from torturing her, the contractions lessened and somewhere near her, she heard a voice, "How long has it been?"
She knew it was a nurse and as she looked up, she saw a blurry face with furrowed eyebrows, staring at her apathetically.
"I …," she started. It seemed like it began forever. Glancing away from the nurse, she squinted her watery and tired eyes, and sniffed carefully before mumbling, "I can't remember,"
She heard a frustrated sigh, "How many minutes apart? Your contractions,"
Again, she had no idea. Tears streamed down her face as she felt another contraction, she cradled her bulging stomach with both arms, her body cringing and trembling, the contraction felt like it was twisting her every fiber, then few seconds later, it passed.
"You see this clock right there," the nurse pointed to a clock hanged to her left, completely dismissing her temporary episode, "every time you feel one of those, I need you to tell me how far apart they are, get it?" And she left.
She nodded to the disappearing nurse. She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her tattered shirt so that she can clearly see the clock. She breathed gravely, taking in as much air as possible. There it was again, she pointedly stared at the clock, as the contraction viciously gnawed its way up her back and around her womb. She continued to stare, her arms still cradling her stomach, her body trembling violently as she pressed herself firmly down on the chair and planted her feet into the earth for whatever support it can provide. Then it passed, and she collapsed. Despite her fatigue, and with half closed eyes, she counted the seconds that ticked by, she counted the time as it monstrously threatened her. Two minutes passed. Another contraction.
Somewhere in the background, she heard a woman screaming, "It hurts! Please, I can't take this anymore! Somebody just rip the baby out!" A loud screech made her look up.