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By early evening, the doctor had started medication to help her labor progress. It wasn’t long before her contractions became stronger, and she stopped being interested in anything anybody had to say.

I was standing beside the bed rubbing her lower back when she grabbed my wrist.

“Harder, Ajoni,” she instructed.

I pressed harder, moving my hand when she pointed toward another spot.

“Right there,” she murmured, closing her eyes.

When the contraction passed, she leaned against the pillows and took a breath. I wiped her forehead before she reached for my hand again.

“Fuck!” she cried as another contraction started.

I held her hand while she squeezed the fuck out of mine.

“Breathe, baby,” I encouraged her.

She turned her head and glared at me.

“Ajoni, if you tell me to breathe one more muthafuckin’ time, I’m gonna snatch your fucking lips off!”

Tae busted out laughing from his chair.

“And you can shut the fuck up too!” she snapped, pointing at him.

“Damn, sis! I’m sitting over here minding my business,” he protested.

“Shut up talking to me!”

I shook my head while her mother helped her get comfortable. Tae finally shut his ass up, although I knew that wouldn’t last long.

As the hours passed, Tori’s contractions became more intense. Sometimes she wanted me rubbing her back, and other times she didn’t want anybody touching her. I did whatever she asked, but watching her hurt was fucking with me.

I’d seen my wife go through a lot, but I’d never seen her in this much pain.

Another contraction had her gripping the bedrail and crying out. I stayed beside her until it passed, then helped her settle back against the pillows.

“Baby, I can’t do this shit anymore,” she whimpered.

Her mother stepped closer and brushed the hair away from her forehead.

“You’re doing good, sweetheart,” she assured her.

Tori shook her head before looking at me.

“Ajoni, please tell these people I want an epidural,” she pleaded.

“Aight, baby.”

The anesthesia provider came in a little later. I stayed beside Tori while they got her positioned, and after another painful contraction, she finally got the epidural.

Once it started working, she relaxed for the first time in hours.

“Oh, thank God,” she murmured, settling against the pillows.

I leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“You good now, mama?”