~Days have become longer and more restless with my pregnancy almost at its end. My entire body is sore all over all the time, from my neck to my feet.
The child has been doing somersaults inside me it seems; maybe he or she is also getting tired, of being in my belly!
I hope it is not much longer now. I am so eager for our baby to come into the world…and a bit frightened, I admit.
My sister told me of the pain it caused her to birth her own two children; like her body was being split in half.
It absolutely terrified me.
But then she said that it all goes away the moment your child is in your arms.
I hope she was right.
…
Melchior comes back in the evening carrying a large basket. "What is all that?" I ask him as he sets it down in front of us.
"Just today's dinner," he begins, pulling out two potatoes and a tied up brown paper package.
I reach in and find a little cloth bag, with a familiar smell. I unwrap it.
"Chocolate!" I exclaim with surprise and delight. I cannot even remember when I last had it!
"For later, darling," Melchior chuckles.
I look over and peer into the basket; it looks like there is still some more things he brought.
"What about all this?" I look up at him.
He takes out what's left; some clean white towels, a ball of string and scissors, and a strange little wooden box.
"I figured," he says as he set everything out to show me, "that it'd be best to get everything we'll need…for when it's time."
I nod, trying not to show the fear I have been trying to hide from my husband.
"What's in there?" I point to the little box. He takes it and opens it, showing some little bushels of some pungent plants.
"I read that some herbs that can help ease labor," he explains, holding each one up. "Lavender, chamomile, and clary sage. They can be seeped in water to drink or burned to release their aroma."
He suddenly stops talking and just stares at me.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing!" I say quickly, shaking my head. I turn away from him and reach for our food to prepare it for the fire.
Melchior comes to my side. "Wendla, you can tell me. What is it?"
I sigh. "I'm just…scared." I let go all of my thought and feelings to him.
"What if I'm not strong enough? If I'm not even capable- Melchi, we're still so young! My sister didn't have her first until she was nineteen!"
"What if I die? Or the baby?"
His face is stone cold as he takes my hands. "You listen to me," he says, his voice shaking. "You're not going to die, and neither is our child. You'll be fine, both of you. I promise."
He presses his lips to my forehead, and puts his hand atop mine, resting on my bulging stomach. My dark thoughts evaporate from my mind as we sit there, the three of us.
We will be alright.