It’s water.
My water just broke.
Oh God.
I’m having this baby.
I’m having this baby now.
“Esme?”
The other passenger has moved off to a far corner. Geoffrey is looking at me from behind the glass of the ticket office with his eyebrows knitted together in concern.
I meet his gaze. The world spins. I feel my knees shake a little but I will myself to keep standing.
“I… need to get… hospital,” I choke out. Another wave of pain has me wincing.
I hear footsteps, fast, but with a discernable limp. Then I feel a hand on my arm, strong and firm.
I lean into his weight at my side to stop from falling over. I have to trust him. I don’t have any other choice.
“Hold on, girl,” Geoffrey orders. His voice is so deep and soothing that for a moment, it actually succeeds in calming me.
“I… I can’t,” I gasp. White light streaks across my eyes like shooting stars. “This baby is coming…”
And then, one by one, the stars snuff out.
All that’s left is darkness.