Being pregnant with my second child has been a whirlwind of emotions — but not for the reasons I expected. While I thought the journey would revolve around preparing for the baby, it instead became a reckoning with my marriage. During most of this pregnancy, I found comfort in isolation, indulging in cravings and trying to stay calm. But my best friend, Ava, refused to let me wallow.
She encouraged me to get out, bond, and even booked us a spot at a pottery night — a wholesome distraction to create nursery keepsakes. As we settled in, surrounded by other women sharing birth stories, one woman’s tale took a strange turn. She spoke about a boyfriend named Malcolm who’d left their date abruptly because his sister-in-law, Olivia, went into labor — late at night. My name is Olivia. My daughter, Tess, was born that same night. I looked over at Ava, and her face said what I was already fearing…
