As I grew bigger and it got closer to me delivering the baby, fear gripped me. Millions of women gave birth without a doctor or even anesthesia. Although neither man had ever delivered a baby, Alexis and Ran assured me that they knew how to birth a baby and to then cut and tie off the umbilical cord and then wait for the afterbirth. Oni knew how only because I had watched a live birth on television.
They didn't seem afraid or nervous, just excited. I was excited, too, but I was still scared. I had been pregnant for what seemed like an eternity. Although I was ready to meet my baby boy, I wasn't ready for the unknown or the screaming I was sure to do.
"This scares you more than having to face the punishment by metal," Alexis said.
"I only had a night to worry about the punishment. I've h
