She slid the key into the lock and opened the hotel door quickly to let John in. He squeezed past the door and dropped his bag onto the floor. The room was small and dirty but he didn't have the ability to care.
"I don't feel good." He said weakly. He removed his jacket, revealing how tight his shirt had become on him. His round, heavy belly hung out below it. He rubbed the stretched skin and sat down carefully on the bed.
"I wonder if there's a hospital nearby." She said, eyeing his hugeness. The baby was clearly descended, and ready to go. John's breathing was heavy and he closed his eyes as a new pain built, stronger than before. As it faded he opened his eyes.
"Let's watch T.V."
The pillows were flattened and gray, but she stacked them up behind him so he could lay comfortably.
It wasn't long before he couldn't sit like that, and he stood and removed his jeans and shirt. "I'm so uncomfortable in these damn things."
She noticed he had begun to sweat and a few strands of long, dark hair clung to his face. Before he could sit back down he fell forward, holding himself up on his knuckles on the bed and moaned open-mouthed. He rocked his hips but it did nothing for the pain that he now felt nearly everywhere in his pelvis, back and legs. He looked at her steadily.
"It really hurts. I think this is it."
"I know." Was all she could think to say. She clicked the television off and watched him, unsure of her next move.
He sighed and dragged his knees up onto the bed. Being on all fours was the only thing he could imagine doing in that moment, and he concentrated as the pain intensified again. He moaned again, the same way he had before, and his moaning was followed by a sharp intake of air as the pain peaked.
"Ahh, my back." He whimpered and rocked his hips from side to side. "Push on it."
She got behind him and pushed the heel of her hand into his back.
"Harder." He begged. "Oh my god. Harder. Please."
She pushed until she needed a break. "My arm's cramping, hold on a sec."
He cried out when she stopped, as his back seemed to demand pressure right at that moment.
He panted heavily through the pain that refused to release him.
"I wish I could just get a little break." He groaned. "It won't let up."
"It's like back labor." She said softly. "But the baby doesn't seem posterior."
"Help me!" He cried suddenly. The pain pounding through his back was nearly unbearable. "I can't ****ing do it." He moaned loudly. "Help me. It's like a ****ing hammer."
"Can you get to the car? We could find a hospital."
He whimpered pitifully at this suggestion and shook his head. She began to push on his back again just before another contraction hit and he screamed in a way she had never heard.
"I think she's coming out." He said, close to tears.
She had almost forgotten there was a baby involved in all this. He screamed again as she looked behind him to see a bulging shape that made her feel faint.
"Holy ****." She whispered. She couldn't believe her eyes.