I would have never let Gabe leave the house to do his chores if I knew that I would be going into labour that day. I was sweeping the living room when I had my first contraction. I gritted my teeth and tightened my grip on the broom as it hit. I was unsure of what it was, so I kept cleaning until another one came. Water gushed between my legs.

"Jenny!" I called out, dropping the broom at my feet.

Jenny rushed in from the kitchen. I grabbed her arms and her eyes went wide.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"The baby is coming," I said.

A smile appeared across Jenny's lips.

"Let's get you upstairs," she said.

I nodded as I cradled my belly. She grabbed my arm and I followed her upstairs and into Gabe and I's bedroom. She helped me sit on the edge of the bed and she kneeled in front of me.

"Shouldn't we get Gabe?" I asked.

"The baby won't be here for a while," she said. "Besides, I know how to deliver children. I delivered Marilyn's."

She mentioned that name again, but I did not ask questions. I had bigger things to worry about, and humongous prayers that my baby would be a boy. My heart ached already at the thought of having a daughter.

"I want Gabe here," I said.

"I'll get him soon," Jenny said. "You need to lie back and relax."

Jenny stacked the pillows on the bed and placed them behind my back as I lied down. The discomfort came in a wave through my stomach as another contraction hit. I held my breath as I waited for it to pass.

"Don't do that," Jenny said. "It is important to remember to breathe."

"It hurts," I said.

"It's going to get a lot worse."

My bit down on my bottom lip as I realized how unprepared I was. Jenny patted my thigh before standing up.

"I'll go get the boys," she said.

I closed my eyes and nodded my head. I focused on my breathing as Jenny left the room to go outside. I did not open my eyes until I heard someone walking into the bedroom. Gabe was smiling as he sat on the bed next to me. He slid his arms around me and laced our fingers together. The smell of sweat and dirt filled my nose.

"I'm so excited," he said before kissing my cheek.

"I'm so scared," I said.

"You're going to do great."

Gabe stayed by my side as my hours of labour slowly passed by. My contractions became stronger and closer together. I squeezed Gabe's hands and cried out in pain every time one hit. Gabe was patient and caring with me. He did not complain as I unintentionally inflicted pain on him.

Jenny came up the stairs with Noah. I was uncomfortable having the two of them between my legs, but I could not complain. I would love to be in a hospital right now, but that wasn't a choice.

Jenny told me when to push, and I would grit my teeth and squeeze Gabe's hands as I pushed. A blinding pain ripped through my body. Sweat was rolling down my temple and I was panting for breath. Jenny and Gabe kept giving me words of encouragement.

The pain was relieved when I heard the sound of a baby crying. I let out a deep breath and collapsed back into Gabe. When I opened my eyes Jenny was holding my crying baby. She looked at the baby with a hurt look. Noah let out a deep breath and raked his fingers through my hair. Gabe was craning his neck to see, and sighed. My heart felt like it was ripping itself in two.

"What?" I asked.

I already knew the answer: we had a daughter.

"Gabriel, come deal with this," Noah said.

"No!" I cried out.

Gabe let go of me and pushed himself off of the bed. I grabbed the sleeve of his shirt, desperate to stop him from going near her. I could barely move though. My body ached so much. Gabe ripped his arm out of my grasp.

"Lindsay, I have to," he said.

"No!" I said. The tears rolled down my cheeks and I did not bother wiping them away. "Please, you don't have to do this."

"It's tradition," Noah said. "We are doing this to protect you."

"She's crying," I said. "She's breathing. Let her live!"

Gabe took our daughter out of Jenny's hand. The baby was covered in blood and mucous. She was kicking her arms and legs out as she cried. She looked so tiny in Gabe's hands.

"She's breathing now, but she will die soon," Noah said. "This is to stop you from getting attached and hurt."

"Please!" I cried.

Jenny rushed up to the head of the bed. She tried to hold me and comfort me, but I pushed her away.

"I'm begging you," I said. "Please, don't do this!"

"It's okay," Jenny said. Her own voice cracked and she began crying. "It is going to be alright."

"Please, just let me hold her," I said.

"That is not a good idea," Jenny said. "It will be easier if you don't."

"This can't be happening."

Gabe looked down at our crying baby in his hands. I could see the hurt flash across his face. His eyebrows were furrowed and his mouth was slightly open. Noah cleared his throat and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Do it, Gabriel," he said. "The longer you hold off, the harder it will be on us all."

"Please, Gabe!" I buried my face in my hands. "Please, you can't do this to her."

Gabe let out a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"I don't think I can do this," he said quietly.

"You have to," Noah said. "Do what is best for the family."

"Gabe, please!" I yelled.

Jenny's body went rigid before she pulled me into her chest. She put her hand on the back of my head and held me so that I would not look at Gabe. I sobbed and pleaded for Gabe not to kill her, but he did not listen.

The crack of our baby girl's neck rang through my ears. I collapsed into Jenny and somehow cried even harder.