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The woman and the monk were sat facing each other. The first rays of dawn were shining through the window. Silence filled the room to the brim, she felt that if she didn’t break it, it would choke her.
“The reason I’m doing this is-
- There’s no need to explain.” He raised his hand to calm her anxieties.
The exact reason she was here wasn’t necessary. As is custom, she had spent two weeks at the temple, living with the monks and receiving their advice. Still, she decided to go through with the ritual. Here she now stood, her body washed and oiled to aid the process.
“Let us begin.” He said solemnly. He took off his robe and laid back, revealing the inscriptions painted on his stomach. Her eyes moved along the letters, down between his legs. The ritual had been explained to her many times. Still, it was strange when seeing it in person. She slowly approached him and slightly spread his sex with her fingers. Then, she placed her head against it and pushed in. His body spread to accept hers as she made her way up his canal and into his womb. First the head, then the neck.
When the shoulders pressed against him, the monk guided her body sideways to make the passage easier. He leaned back and took a deep breath as they entered him. He prayed to his goddess as he felt the stretch moving up his canal. It was not painful but it was intense, She would help him see it through. His stomach was deformed so that he could not see past it, but he could feel that most of her body had gone through. Only her legs were still sticking out and it did not take long for them to be pulled in.
Once it was done, he sat back up. He didn’t have much choice; the weight of his belly prevented him from being on his back too long. It was so big he couldn’t put his arms around it, his navel reached down to his knees, the underside touching the floor. He took a moment to feel her. She had moved a bit at first, making herself as comfortable as she could in that cramped space. Now the sleep had taken her. He put one hand on each side and recited another prayer. As he did so his belly slowly started to shrink, very slowly. He felt it rub against the floor as it moved back to him. Eventually his hands met across his navel, his belly reaching the size of a full-term pregnancy. Then it was done. Again he took a moment to take in the events of the ritual. He rubbed his taut stomach, feeling her kick back against his hand. Good, he thought. He wrapped his robe around him and went back to the monks’ quarters. Soon it would be breakfast, and he suddenly had some cravings.
The day went on as normal, except that he couldn’t help much with the manual tasks. He went to the library instead, there was always work to be done transcribing and translating. He got to work translating a scroll that had come from further west, taking frequent pauses whenever the baby pressed against his bladder a little too much. Eventually he gave up and started walking around the gardens, the day was so lovely. It also seemed to soothe her as she spared the onslaught to his organs. His brothers saluted him as he walked by, he was carrying a blessing of the goddess after all.
As he waddled his way around, he came across the children of the temple. The older ones would be at their lessons, brother Ranod was taking care of the young ones. Upon seeing him with his protruding belly, they ran to him, fueled by a million questions.
“Brother, is it true we’re getting a new sibling?
-Is the baby in your belly?
-Like brother Danai?”
Indeed, Danai had carried a blessing himself not long ago, which was now fussing in Ranod’s arms.
“Yes, it’s all true” he chuckled, a hand on his belly “You’re going to see her soon. You’ll all be very nice to her, right?
-Yes!” they replied in almost perfect unison.
“But how soon until she comes out?
-Oh very soon” he crouched down to be on level with them “She can’t wait to meet all of you. Feel, she’s saying hello.”
The children each put their hands on his belly, eyes widening when they felt the kicks.
“I felt her!
-Where? I didn’t, it’s not fair!
-Children, let brother Ripa be!” Ranod called out as soon as he saw them get rowdy. He approached and saluted his brother in turn.
“My apologies, I told them the news this morning and they’ve been a lot more energetic than usual
-It’s natural, they’re only young still”
They gave each other a nod of understanding before Ranod led the children away. The monk trekked on by himself. He spent the rest of the day much like this. Sitting, walking, and enjoying the sights of late spring. In the afternoon he was by the pond, in preparation of what was to come next. Finally, he felt a flutter in his belly, different from the kicks. Then something entered his birth canal. He knew it was not time for labour yet, but he shed his robe and sat in the pond. He spread his legs but didn’t push, simply feeling the mass travel down towards his entrance. It spread him open and he gave a slight moan, before it slipped out of him. It was a large koi fish. The fish symbolised the old life that the person wanted to leave behind, the memories and the pain. The birth of the fish meant that the rebirth ritual was nearly complete, and he would go into labour soon.
The monk stayed in the pond for a bit. The water was cold but it helped with the weight of the belly. He sighed in relief as his back muscles relaxed. Suddenly, a flurry of kicks. You feel it too, he thought, it’s almost time. He let the time pass like this, until the dinner bell called him back.
The first contraction came when dinner was being served, almost as soon as he had sat down. This was a problem; it wasn’t his first pregnancy and he knew that labour would progress quicker. On the other hand, the contractions weren’t regular yet, he probably had a good few hours still. Keeping a reassuring hand atop his bump, he started eating. The first half of the meal went fine, until a second contraction took him by surprise. He winced as his muscles squeezed and dropped his spoon. He must have made a face as well, as his Brothers all gave him a concerned look. He explained that it was early stages still, but still finished his dinner in a hurry before going up to his sleeping quarters. Once the door closed, he took off everything and put on a simple tunic. He then laid a linen sheet onto the floor and sat down, focusing on his breathing.
This was always the greatest challenge: keeping the mind calm while in the throes of labour. Here he sat cross-legged on the ground, with his hands joined underneath his belly, and trying to let the contractions come and go. He always thinks he is ready until one suddenly seizes him. Breathe. Breathe. One long exhale as all his muscles relax again. They’re getting stronger and closer. It’s barely been one more hour until he feels a Pop, and the sheet under him becomes wet. When the next contraction comes, he really starts to feel a pressure as the baby moves down.
“Hey how is it- Oh goddess” Ranod had come from dinner to check on his roommate. He quickly knelt in front of him to inspect his progress. Almost on instinct, Ripa leaned back on his hands and spread his legs.
“It’s fine. I’m not feeling the urge yet, you’re still early.” Ranod only dignified that with a reprimanding look. He quickly grabbed everything they’d need, towels and hot water, and washed his hands so he could inspect him more closely.
“You’re dilated, it’s definitely soon.
-Not soon enough. Could you get my pillow, I want to lie down.” Ranod got two pillows, putting one for his lower back, then slowly lowering his head on the second one. His tunic rode up as he moved, exposing the taut skin. Ripa caressed the dome, sending mental messages to the baby to come quickly.
“You’re really an angel.
-I know, the best in the temple.” He replied with a smirk. “You’re lucky we came up around the same time, you could’ve ended up with Pele.
-Goddess, not Pele.”
Both gave a slight chuckle at the thought, then fell silent for a bit as all eyes fell on Ripa’s labouring stomach. The latter suddenly winced and sat forward, keeping a hand bellow his navel.
“Do you want something for the pain?
-It’s too late for that, I think – Ah – I think it’s happening.”
Ranod quickly moved back between his legs and, upon examination, saw that the head was nearly fully engaged in his birth canal. Ripa steadied himself, palms on the floor behind him, feet flat on the ground.
“I’m going to start pushing”
Ranod simply nodded. On the next contraction Ripa grunted and pushed. The head inched its way towards the world. On the next push, a sliver of it began to appear.
“I can see it, you’re making good progress”
Ripa’s only response was another grunt and another push. The sliver became a small circle, became a sliver again. Next push, same thing. Ripa grunted again, this time in frustration.
“You’ll be ok, just keep pushing”
I know I’ll be ok, I’m not an idi-aaAAAAHHH. One especially strong contraction and the head was at full crown without receding back. This morning’s elasticity was mostly gone, leaving Ripa panting with the painful stretch. Thankfully, one small push got the head out. They both knew what that meant; Ripa laid back on the pillows, taking deep breaths while Ranod got to work.
First, check if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck. Nope, all good. Next, aligning the shoulders. Ranod slowly inserted his fingers behind the baby’s shoulders. When he felt the muscles contract, he guided the baby’s body to turn sideways. To signal he could start pushing again, Ranod laid a hand atop his friend’s great belly. Ripa brought his knees up and tucked his chin into his chest. He started pushing without regards for contractions and pretty soon, the goddess’ blessing was delivered unto the world.