Better or Worse

Camilla tried breathing deeply and patiently as she waited for William to return with the midwives, as the sharp cramps tore through her. She started wondering if the pains were making her lose her sense of time.

Because either William was taking a very long while to return or else things were moving along a lot faster than with her first birth.

She remained on her feet, leaning on the back on a heavy armchair and bracing against the pains as they came and went. They were already close together, giving her little time to catch her breath in between. She'd thought that when she sent William out that she still had hours and hours of labour to endure before her body would be ready to push her baby out.

Now she was less sure about that. The urge to push was steadily growing in her. Surely that wasn't right?