ESSENCE'S POV

I woke up to the most excruciating pain I had ever felt. I winced. It was too much for me. I clutched my stomach miserably.

"North." I whimpered. "Baby."

North lay next to me in bed, snoring. He stirred for a moment and opened his eyes sleepily.

"What is it, love?"

"It hurts."

"What does, Essa?" He was wide awake now.

The pain returned and I gritted my teeth, clutching my bulging baby belly. Wait… Crap…

"Baby…" I panicked. "I think… I think it's time…" His eyes bulged. He threw back the covers and grabbed his pants off the floor. I didn't question it. I was too busy clutching my stomach with pure pain.

"Damn it!" North spat.

"What?!" I panicked again. He looked at me with a calming expression.

"The others aren't home. Normally Myrah would know how to handle this. Sweetheart, I don't know how to deliver a baby!"

"Neither do I! And I'm delivering it! It's coming!" I counter. I felt miserable as I get out. I felt wetness splattering onto the fabric of my pyjama pants.

"Owwwww!" I shrieked. "Damn it! There goes my water…" I almost crumple when North catches me. He sets me back down on the bed.

"Oh god oh god." North mumbled. He got between my legs and I got really nervous. He carefully removed my pants and my stomach began hurting again and it lasted longer this time.

"Aaaauggghhhh!" I screamed. North soothed me and slid off my underwear carefully. The cramping started again.

"Aaaaahhhhh! Aaaaahhh! NORTH! Ahhhhh! NORTH! NORTH!" Tears come to my eyes. This hurts too much!

"Baby, how close are you?" North said calmly. His eyes were filled with worry.

"Really close!" I scream. "North, I can't do this! It's killing me! Just kill me!"

"You can do this, Essence!" He cheers me on. "Now, I don't remember much from health class, but I think you gotta push."

"Ok… Aaauughhh!" My mind went elsewhere as I pushed slowly. The pains stopped, then came back stronger than ever.

"AAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH! NORTH! NORTH! PLEASE!" I beg, weeping.

"Come on baby!" North cheers. "I can see her head… Come on, you're almost there!"

"I… I am?!" I ask. The pains come back with building force.

"Yes!" North says. "Come on, sweetheart!"

"Please help me!" I scream.

"Babe, all I can do is push on your stomach to help, it might hurt more, but it would be over quicker."

"Do it!" I snap. His hands move up. One of them stays, while the other strokes my face, wiping away tears and sweat. Of course, he wiped it before. The one that stayed starts to push down. The other finds my hand and holds on, tight. I grip too it like its my life force. The pain comes again, like white fire.

"Stop." I whisper, then louder. "Stop, stop, STOP, STOP!" I smack his hand away. Which is better, more pain in less time, or pain that builds over time? Number two, thank you.

"I'm sorry, babe, I told you…"

"Shut it! Just get this baby out of me! How far is she?! She better be far!" I scream. I feel something moving slowly out, and I faintly hear North saying,

"There's some difficulties, but…"

"DIFFICULTIES?! Get this baby out of me!" I break down crying.

"Her head is all the way out, and we are halfway down her neck! Almost there, Essence!" North soothes me with those words. Yet, anger ensues.

"Her neck? That's all? Get. This. BABY OUT OF ME, BEFORE I DO IT MYSELF!" I scream.

"Ok, I'll pull gently, very, very gently, so it doesn't hurt as much, ok?" I nod my head, and push.

"AAAAAHHHHHH! NORTH! ALYSSA! DEREK! MYRAH!" I sob.

"One last big push, ok, Essa?" North asked me soothingly. I nod my head and put all my strength in this last push.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH! NORRRRTTTTHHHH!" I feel something leave my body. I hear North yelling.

"Essence! You did it! She's here!"

"She is? Is she…"

"A Manipulator? Yes!" I hear something like tears in North's voice. Why was he crying?

"Baby are you okay?"

"Yes, she's just so beautiful…" He sniffles.

"Can I see her? And give her her name and emblem?" An emblem is when you say, this is MY child. You can't kill her. It doesn't work, but it's fun to design the emblem with snow when you are a child. North gives me our child. I look at her.

"She's… She's perfect, North." I whisper.

"What are you gonna name her, Essence?"

"Elsa. Her name is Elsa."

Like it? Hate it? Read Isolation: The Cold Shoulder if you are confused!