"Babe, I can't sleep, my back hurts" I heard my wife call out softly. I was used to night call duties like this so even though I was tired and sleepy, I couldn't ignore her. After all, she was carrying our baby.

I sat up and began to massage her back while she kept spitting into the bowl that was placed careful on the floor very close to the bed.

I was used to everything except the spiiting. I was used to the tantrums, weird cravings, mood swings and mid night body massage but the spitting irks me everytime.

"Babe, you're such an amazing husband, thank you so much for all you do" My wife said as she smiled sweetly at me.

"You don't need to thank me, it's my duty and I am happy to do it." I replied. She makes it so much easier, she's so appreciative and it makes me want to do more.

"I am so hungry, it's almost as if I haven't eaten at all" She yawned.

"Oooh! Not again. Babe don't tell me you're craving noodles again" I forgot to add that I was also used to waking up at midnight to prepare noodles.

She winked at me and gave me the sweetest smile. I knew I wouldn't hesitate if she wanted me to cook for her. I love her with my entire being and would do anything to make the journey easy for her.

"Don't worry, I don't feel like eating noodles either. Just get me that chi exotic juice in the fridge". She said.

I quickly ran to get it before she changes her mind. As I handed the juice to her, I kicked my feet on the small bowl bedside the bed. The slimy white contents spilled all over my feet. I wanted to throw up.

My wife bursted into laughter. "You need to see your face right now, why are you frowning like that? It's just saliva, go get a mop and clean it and please rinse the bowl very well before you bring it back"

"What? You don't expect me to....." The words dried up in my mouth as soon as I noticed the hard stare she gave me. I simply went to get a mop.

"I thought you said you were due? Please I can't wait for this baby to come out so we can all rest". I said as I wiped the floor.

"Of course, I'm eight months and two weeks gone. The baby should drop any moment from now. Don't worry, it will soon be over" She said while I begged God to hasten the whole thing.

********************************************

The next day, I was already closing from work when I saw my wife's call. I smiled because I knew she was calling to remind me of her shawarma.

"Don't worry babe, I will be on my way now and I'll not forget to buy the shawarma". I said as soon as I picked the call.

"Babe, please come straight to the hospital. I am in labour" She said in a very distressed voice. I left everything I was doing and rushed down to the hospital.

"What took you so long?" She screamed at me as soon as I entered the ward. She looked disheveled. Her hair was loosened and she was wearing only a wrapper on her waist.

"I'm so sorry love, I was caught up in traffic but I am here now. Does it hurt?" She gave me a malicious glare and I knew I had asked the wrong question.

"So sorry love, where does it hurt?" I rephrased my question immediately.

"Aaaaaaah!" She screamed and my heart jumped.

"What is it? Is the baby coming?" I asked frantically.

"No, it's not coming. Just rub my waist. My waist ooo" I began rubbing but it only got worse as she increased the tempo of her screams, dragging my shirt and blaming me for her predicament.

I stared at the two nurses who just stood by the side saying sorry every now and then.

"Are you people just going to stand there and say sorry? Won't you do anything about the pain?"

"There's nothing we can do sir, she has only dialated up to 6cm. She's almost there, just give it a little time" I looked at the nurses unbelievably. My wife was in so much pain and they're telling me that nothing can be done about it? I left them to find the doctor who told me the same thing.

At this point my wife was screaming and crying uncontrollably. It broke my heart. I didn't even know when I dropped a tear. Seeing my wife in so much pain and not being able to do anything to help her broke my heart.

I was still holding and trying to console her when her water broke. The nurses checked her and She was rushed to the labour room. I held her hand while she pushed. I was so terrified, my heart kept beating. When she pushed the final one and the doctor held out my son who was covered in mucus and blood. My joy knew no bounds.

The pains, fear and everything I and my wife went through from the moment of conception till the moment of delivery, all vanished. As the nurse placed the tiny soul in my arms, my heart was filled with so much joy and love. I was so happy. I was holding my offspring, this tiny being came from me and he is mine.

**************************************

Few hours later, I returned to the hospital with some things my wife told me to get her. I got to the ward and found the nurse bathing the baby.

"Where's my wife?" I asked

"She's having her bath sir" I nodded as I dropped the nylon bag I held. The doctor already told me we're set to go home. I just needed to go sort out the bills so we can get ready to leave.

My wife's phone which was laying carelessly on top of the bed began to ring. It was her mum so I picked it up. She said she just wanted to check if everything was alright and she was already on her way to Lagos for omugo. We both laughed and thanked God for everything. I hanged up the phone and wanted to leave the ward when the phone beeped again. It was a message and it caught my eye instantly.

"SWEETHEART, I'M SO SORRY I WASN'T THERE TO WITNESS THE BIRTH OF OUR SON. ANYWAYS, YOUR HUSBAND WAS THERE ON MY BEHALF. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU BOTH. I LOVE YOU"

My heart stopped as I read the message. I sat slowly on the bed for I could no longer stand. My feet became wobbly and couldn't carry me anymore. I scrolled through the chat and the more I kept reading, the more I couldn't breathe. Tears flowed from my eyes without control. She has been cheating on me with her ex and the baby isn't mine. She even slept with him the day before our wedding.

"Sir, are you okay?" The nurse who was still bathing the baby asked me but I could barely hear her. All I could see and hear was pain. I wanted to die. My whole life has been a lie.

My wife walked in smiling innocently and sweetly. How didn't I know? How was she able to deceive me like this? All I ever did was love and cherish her yet she chose her toxic ex over me. If she loved him that much, why didn't she just go be with him? Why did she choose to show me such gross wickedness.

I lurched at her like a wild animal and began strangling her. I wanted to kill her. The nurses screamed and everyone gathered to hold me down. They kept asking what the problem was but I couldn't bring myself to talk. My wife knew instantly that I knew as she went on her knees and started begging my forgiveness.

She was saying all sorts of things of how she loves me and how it was the fault of the devil but I could barely hear her. My life flashed before my eyes. I began to remember how I fell in love with her till the moment she gave birth, especially during the pregnancy stage, everything I did for another man's child and she knew. I looked at the baby and rembered the way I felt when I first held him. The pain was so much, I could literally feel my chest breaking.

"Don't ever come back to my house. I never want to set my eyes on you again. I'll send you your things". I said in a surprisingly calm tone and walked out without looking back.

I have been cut so deep and my life will never be the same.

THE END

"