RAVENNA
Two months later
“Elias!” I screamed his name, like a prayer, like a curse, like something clawing its way out of my throat. The pain wrapped around my lower back, twisted through my stomach, and sent my knees buckling beneath me. My hands slapped the wall as I gasped, heart pounding.
Another wave came. This one was deeper and sharper, I could feel it in my teeth.
“Elias!”
Footsteps thundered up the stairs, the door banged open.
“Cera, what happened?”
I turned toward him, panting. “My water, it broke.”
He blinked, “Wait, now? Right now?”
I gave him a look, a long one. “Do I look like I’m giving a dress rehearsal?”
He froze for a second, hands half in the air, then panic slapped him across the face.
“Okay, okay… uh, towels? Wait, the midwife! I’ll go get the midwife!”
