The Decree

I watched her lay in bed and struggle to roll over as the weight of her pregnant belly fought to stay in it's warmed nest among our sheets. Slowly, on her back, slowly, to her left. A groan scratched at her sleepy throat.

I shuffled down to be nose to button with her belly. I whispered, "Be nice to your mom and let her sleep."

The tension of a stiff leg pushing against her skin released. I heard her sigh and her own tensed muscles eased.

Pleased with my child's obedience, I moved back to my pillow and watched her tranquil face.

My mind wandered. When would she go into labor? When could we hold our child? She was 41 weeks along already. Could it not just happen? Would it be wrong of me to use my talent? Would that be playing God?

I dismissed the thought and got up to shower. The midwife would arrive soon, and I needed to be presentable to welcome her in.

I quickly towel dried my golden retriever head of hair and dressed so I could prepare some tea for the ladies and I to enjoy while they conversed.

The creaking of the floorboards alerted me of my wife stepping into the room. I couldn't help but glance from the corner of my eye. Her tawny complexion beneath her black mane was dewy as ever. Her cute ears peeked out from the sides of her round cheeks.

Staring back at what I was doing, I said, "Zuli, if we have a daughter, she's going to have your ears."

"And what makes you so certain?" she teased.

"Oh, I know," I affirmed, leaning to plant a peck on her lips. "It's called gut instinct. Intuition, if you will."

I reached for her cup on the table behind me. "Red raspberry leaf for you." She took the cup and sipped. "I think you're going to need it. That baby is getting the eviction notice and has less than 24 hours to vacate the premises."

Zuleika dropped her head and looked up at me with unamused eyes. "Really, Levi?"

Her expression shifted as if she noticed something.

"Funny that you say that. I just had a Braxton Hicks contraction."

A devilish smile snaked across my face. "Whoo, boy!" I exclaimed, rubbing my palms together. "That ain't no Braxton Hicks, baby! I'm gonna be holding our child by tonight."

Zuli moved past me to sit at a dining chair, easing her way into the seat, using the table and chair back for support.

The telltale knock at the door reminded us of the expected arrival of the midwife, Junia.

Opening the door to get bright horse teeth, she vigorously shook my hand with a, "Levi! Good to see ya!" as the beads around her neck and wrist trembled like wooden wind chimes in a hurricane.

"Great to see you again, Junia," I managed to reply before she scurried over to touch my wife's swollen belly.

"Miss Zuleika. Your egg is about to hatch!" She cooed as she cupped her abdomen.

"Speaking of which," I interjected, "She's been having contractions. I think you need to stay. This is going to progress pretty fast."

"Well, this is her first birth and they tend to take a bit more time the first round."

"I don't think you understand. This baby is coming today. Probably in the next few hours."

Zuleika's brows furrowed. Junia still had her hands on my baby when she perked up, shifting her attention from me. "Zuleika, your baby bump suddenly feels very hard. Are you having a contraction?"

"Yes, it's not bad, just firm. It doesn't hurt at all."

"Probably just early labor. Some women can be in early labor for days," Junia dismissed.

"No," I reinforced. "You need to stay. You're not going to leave because she's going to be in active labor very soon."

Silence fell at the finality of my words.

"Well, alright then. Let me help set things up."

As Junia set up the birthing pool, I walked to Zuleika, as I could see her discomfort grow. She rested her head on my shoulder and leaned into me, her baby bump hanging towards the floor.

"Don't forget about transition. The book said that many women say they feel like they can't do it, but it's the shortest part of the whole thing. So, remind me. If I think I can't do it, remind me." Her breathing was strong and even.

"I've read that book a thousand times since we found out. I'm here for you, I will remind you. Promise."

Things progressed at a great rate. Just when she got used to the contractions, they got closer together and intensified. She had changed her clothes and gotten into the pool. No one said a word to her unless it was the midwife asking permission to check fetal heart rate. My Zuli was in the zone.

Until she wasn't. The pain had reached a place where she was panting and opening her eyes wide between each surge. Her hand reached towards me and I grabbed it with a reassuring firmness.

Concern furrowed her brow as she sought breath. She was letting fear slip in. With the gentlest expression I could muster, I held her eyes.

“Levi-” A contraction. “Tell me one of your stories.”

I knew exactly what she meant. From the time we dated as young adults, I had always expressed my love and dreams to her in carefully weighed stories. I wanted a life with her, but a real one. I couldn’t let my words affect her choice, otherwise, it would not be one.

My imagination ran wild when she was near me. I would tell her how it felt to caress the palm of her hand, to share a meal together, to face difficulties as one, as though each experience was another world. Everything was an adventure.

Immediately, I nestled myself behind her shoulders and began…

“When a maiden becomes a mother, it is not a simple transition. It is a transformation. It can also be a difficult one.

Just like a caterpillar is the maiden, soft, and hungry to explore the world. She takes in her fill every day, growing, shedding her old self, coming closer and closer to the deepest, sometimes unseen yearning. Who is her true self?”

The hand of mine Zuleika held she pressed to her face. “Don’t stop touching my face.”

Slowly grazing her cheek, I went on.

“There comes a time in the caterpillar’s life when it senses a new phase in life is near. Instinctively, it sheds the soft skin one more time.

"You see, there is a difference between a chrysalis and a cocoon. The cocoon is merely a house in which the body resides, but a chrysalis… is the caterpillar's body. It's form is something new."

Zuleika was growing noisy now. She groaned through each wave of power. Without words she turned around to sit on her knees and lean over the side of the pool. I was there, right next to her face, skimming my thumb along her plump cheek.

In a low tone, Junia asked, "Zuleika, would you like me to apply counter pressure?" My wife nodded. Junia rolled up her sleeves, hiked up her pant legs and stepped into the pool to use the heel of her hand to put firm pressure on Zuli's lower back.

I glanced up at the midwife, questioning if she saw the child emerging. She shook her head, and my attention went back to my wife.

"The maiden is now at her strongest, yet most vulnerable time of her life. Steadfast and unmoved by the weather, but also an easy target.

"Inside the chrysalis, the form of the caterpillar begins to dissolve. All the old parts are done away with to give room for the new.

"Much in the same way, the maiden in you is dying to make way for a mother."

Zuleika roared suddenly. "There's too much pressure," she forced her speech.

Junia backed off.

"Do you want me to stop, honey?"

"Noooo…" she whined.

"Look at me," I prompted. "You may feel like you can't do this, like you might die, but I promise you, you will not die. Nor will our baby. You can do this."

"How can he fit? I can feel…" she panicked.

"Zuli, each contraction brings us closer to holding that beautiful human being you made."

More screaming.

My caution flew out the door faster than a hummingbird.

"Tell me if you want the pain to stop."

She continued to groan and did not answer me. I'd never seen her in this much pain before. My heart was breaking down the cage of my ribs.

"Just say yes if you want it to stop."

I no longer cared if my ability was a secret. I had the power to do something, I had to give her a chance to choose. I had kept it in for long enough so others would not misuse me. This was my wife and she needed me. I knew she wouldn't betray my trust or power. But I had to have her permission.

In a long, strained answer, she said, "Yes."

"I command this pain to leave." I stated without hesitation.

Immediately the fear in her eyes changed to determination. She clasped both of my hands and bore down.

Junia knelt behind her. A second push came and Junia handed the baby to Zuleika.

I watched in wonder as my wife reached down and pulled a beautiful little girl out of the water and to herself.

Zuleika wailed, "Hello gorgeous!" Looking up from the child to me, she said, "I did it…"

My own heart was bursting at the seams with joy, I couldn't help but get teary-eyed right alongside her. Hearing the baby crying her first breaths, Zuli held her, showing me her face. She had her mom's chubby cheeks and cute round ears.