06/03/2026
When I went into labor, my parents refused to take me to the hospital. “Your sister’s bridal fitting is more important,” they said. So I called an Uber alone—where I gave birth in the back seat. Days later, they had the nerve to ask if they could meet my baby.
I had already been accused of trying to steal attention when I announced my pregnancy. They hadn’t said it outright, but I could see it in my mother’s expression, in my father’s sigh, in the way Isabelle had pursed her lips and said, “Well, that’s unexpected.” That was their polite way of saying unwanted. I was unwanted.
Still, I walked into the kitchen, holding on to the back of a chair to keep myself steady.
“I think I’m in labor,” I said, my voice smaller than I wanted it to be.
My mother sighed. “Clarice, don’t be dramatic. Your due date isn’t for another week.”
I gritted my teeth through another wave of pain, gripping the chair tighter. “I know, but it’s happening now. My contractions are getting closer. I need to go to the hospital.”
For a moment, no one spoke. Then Isabelle scoffed, shaking her head. “Mom, we don’t have time for this right now. My dress fitting is in an hour. We’re already behind schedule.”
My mother nodded in agreement, rubbing her temples. “She’s right, Clarice. This is an important day for Isabelle. We’ve had this appointment booked for months.”
“I am literally about to give birth,” I said, my voice rising. “I need to go to the hospital!”
My father finally spoke then, his voice calm, detached. “Call a cab if you really think it’s that urgent.” Not, we’ll take you. Not, let’s go now. Just that. Call a cab. Like I was some stranger off the street.
I was shaking, and not just from the pain.
My mother sighed again, this time with irritation. “Clarice, stop making this about you. You’ll be fine. First labors take hours. You have time. We need to focus on your sister today.”
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