Don't Hold Your Breath

ELIA

It was a full minute before the door opened again and Aymora walked in, her long hair streaked with gray, still shining and rippling down her back. She didn't meet Elia's eyes as she entered, but walked to the dresser at the side of the room and picked up her large cone, and a few other things, bringing them to the side of the bed.

Elia hadn't moved, just stayed where she was, still and careful, because she knew she had to be.

"Feeling better, huh?" Aymora said quietly, measuring out some herbs into a small mortar.

Elia grimaced. "I mean, I am. The contractions have stopped."

"But not the pain, correct?" Aymora said tightly.

Elia sighed, but shook her head. "I feel like if I move a muscle, everything will clench up again."

Aymora nodded slowly, using the stone pestle in the mortar to begin crushing the herbs she had laid out on the side platform.