Page 304 of Invisible Bars

“I…” I hesitated for a moment, feeling the gravity of what I was about to say. “I forgive y’all.”

It came out quieter than I expected, but it felt real—a release of the burden I had carried for so long.

For the first time, I saw them as people, not just ghosts from a past I never processed, but ones I finally had the strength to face… and forgive.

As I pulled back from the hug, I felt it—a sudden, warm rush between my legs.

I froze.

Everyone else kept breathing normally, but my body knew.

My eyes darted down, then back up to my parents, wide and frantic.

“Oh, no—no, no, no!” I screamed, my voice pitching higher with each word.

Imanio and Chiamaka came flying around the corner of the house like they’d heard gunshots.

“What happened?!” Imanio barked, his voice sharp, eyes darting over me from head to toe. His whole face twisted into immediate panic as I doubled over.

“I think…” I took a deep breath, clutching my belly with both hands. “…I think it’s time.”

“Fuck!” he cursed, running a hand down his face before throwing his arms up. “I told you this could’ve waited!”

Even through the tightening pain, my mind snapped back at him.

Yes, you did. You warned me. You told me we shouldn’t have flown to Mississippi this late in the pregnancy, even if we took the jet and planned to head right back. But I wanted that handled before the baby arrived.

Imanio made a low grunt while approaching, like he wanted to further argue but didn’t have the luxury. Then, mad and all, he swept me up effortlessly, like I weighed nothing more than a feather. My arms looped around his neck as a contraction ripped through me, and I pressed my face into his shoulder.

“Naji, I swear you’re gonna give me gray hair before this kid even says ‘daddy,’” Imanio muttered, his grip tightening as he carried me out.

“I’m s–sorry.”

A sudden spasm shot through me, my head snapping back and my chest seizing, and the phrase exploded out before I could catch it.

“Pain married me first!”

The outburst left my throat raw. I sucked in a shaky breath, pressing my face against his neck. “I love you.”

Imanio’s eyes softened even in the chaos, his jaw unclenching as he pressed a kiss to my temple. “I love you too, baby.”

Under all that fuss, I felt it—the fear, the love, the urgency.

“Everybody in the car!” he ordered, his voice commanding. “And somebody find the nearest hospital! Now!”

“On it!” Chiamaka called out, jogging behind us, her voice laced with desperation. “But what about the jet? Can’t we just take that? Maybe she’ll make it back home in time!”

“Nah, lil’ sis… can’t risk it,” Imanio snapped, urgency punctuating his words. “And I damn sure ain’t about to have a baby in the sky. Too much of my business already be in the news.”

As he carried me, my body jolted with a sharp contraction—my arm flicked outward and my voice erupted without warning, frantic and wild.

“Push who? Push where? Not in my Sunday sandals!”

I glanced down at my feet—there they were, the sparkly sandals adorned with rhinestones that I had chosen for their charm, completely unsuitable for what was about to go down.

The beads of sweat rolled down my brow, and now I was laboring like a woman on a mission with no supplies to aid me.

“Babe,” I panted, clinging desperately to Imanio’s shoulder as another wave of pressure rolled through me. “Is it too early?! We don’t have our bags! And… I’ve got on white panties!” I murmured, rambling, a mixture of embarrassment and panic flooding my thoughts.