The Bath As I Slip Under CHAPTER 1

The Bath As I Slip Under CHAPTER 1 — Pregnancy

The Bath As I Slip Under

1992 — Emotional Development

CHAPTER 1 — Pregnancy

Having a baby at 18.

I thought I’d be really good at it.

My mum was — she had four.

I just had a pamphlet.

There were some classes I tried,

but everyone was way older.

I attracted the wrong sort of attention.

I stood out when I didn’t want to stand out.

I already stood out.

I was a child with a baby bump.

Always half full, not half empty.

The person I saw in the mirror

was the same as I’d always been —

the child I knew.

I couldn’t do my jeans up,

but I knew once the baby was gone, I’d be able to.

I watched the lines creep up my stomach,

down my legs —

part of a part,

part of pregnancy.

The pain started.

The panic kicked in.

I had never felt pain like it.

The panic.

Holding my breath.

My mum had four.

I can do this.

It will be easy.

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