Inspired by From Up on Poppy Hill.
He would never stop admiring her spirit of iron will. Even the harshest of truth could never faze her; in the painful misconception that they were siblings, she squared her shoulders and went about her tasks dutifully, smiling at anyone who caught her eye; he tried to but she steadfastly would look away. She did not conceal her agony by plastering a fake smile on her lips; rather, the stabbing hurt had reached deep into her identity and fleshed out a new Umi. Pain did not dull her petite character; it was transformed into blinding strength, the relentless endurance of a person whose misfortune she clearly did not deserve. That was the Umi he knew and fell in love with.
And that was the Umi he knew now, fighting with every breath, her pants raggedy and jagged like the frayed seams she would patiently sew for him by candlelight. That was the Umi who clutched his hand so tightly he felt strangled, the placid eyes that always looked into his face and his soul even now while her forehead and hair were drenched in sweat.
Both times, she had done nothing wrong. Circumstances and history were cruel to her, attempting to disfigure her beautiful spirit. But this time he was by her side. This time he could muster the courage to reach to her.
"Umi, it's okay. You can let it out. You can scream, yell, hurt me. Don't hold back." He hushed as she threw her head back and let out a low moan. Her legs thrashed for a moment and held taut. He controlled his trembling free hand and brushed the bangs from her eyes. And there was love and fear and tranquility all twisted in his eyes as he soothed her, as he felt another contraction ripple through her body as she struggled to bring out their firstborn. He let one tear escape, then a second, then he shut his eyes tightly and gripped her hand tighter. She hadn't even raised her voice once. He briefly wondered if she was dying, if her life had flashed before his eyes and he didn't catch it. As her first and final cry made the tiny addition slide out like a fish, he drew in a deep breath and looked into her eyes. Their eyes met. She sucked in a breath, released it and smiled. Doing likewise, he leaned in and softly kissed her brow.
I love Umi. Her spirit and unwavering determination to see things through is so awe-inspiring. Just thought to imagine the couple welcoming their first child together in an emotionally raw moment.