ARIA
Pain.
That was the only thing that existed for those first few seconds.
Pure, absolute, all-consuming pain.
Every muscle in my body felt like it was tearing itself apart from the inside. Spasming. Contracting. Twitching in ways that weren't natural, weren't controllable.
I couldn't breathe properly.
Each attempt at inhaling was sharp and gasping, like my lungs had forgotten how to work.
My heart hammered erratically against my ribs, too fast, too hard, like it might burst.
And I couldn't move.
Couldn't speak.
Could only lie there on the cold concrete, my body betraying me completely.
The baby.
Oh God, the baby.
The thought cut through the pain like a knife.
My hands, still twitching, still not fully under my control, tried desperately to reach my stomach.
To check. To protect. To do something.
But the muscles wouldn't cooperate.
Please be okay. Please be okay. Please be okay.
The mantra repeated in my head, desperate and terrified.
I'd been tased.
