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I never thought a single night could hold that much terror, that much clarity. It began with pain—sharp, rolling contractions—and ended with a truth that changed the way my husband and I understood love forever. Between those two points was fear so thick I could taste it, and a silence that almost cost us everything.
Earlier that day, my husband and I had argued. Nothing dramatic, nothing explosive—just the kind of disagreement that leaves tension hanging in the air, unresolved and heavy. We went about our evening separately, both convinced we had time to cool off, time to talk later. We always thought there would be a “later.”
At first, I tried to stay calm. I timed them, breathed through them, told myself it was probably still early. But as the pain sharpened and the rhythm tightened, instinct kicked in. I reached for my phone and called him.
No answer.
I called again. Still nothing.
Each unanswered call made the room feel smaller, the fear louder. I texted. I called. I watched the screen light up and go dark over and over, my hands shaking, my heart racing ahead of my body. By the tenth call, I was crying. By the twentieth, panic had settled into my bones. By the thirtieth, I knew I couldn’t do this alone.
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