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Nona walked briskly down the quiet and dimly lit street, eager to return to her house where Eske was waiting for her, probably worried sick. She had stayed out longer than she intended and didn't want to keep him waiting. Her eyes darted around nervously as she clutched her stomach. Nona had been feeling a bit off all day. But as she walked, a sudden sharp pain shot through her belly, causing her to stumble. She clutched at her stomach, trying to catch her breath. The pain was unbearable now, and Nona fell to her knees, gasping for air. She felt as if something was tearing apart inside her.

The pain grew more intense, and Nona doubled over, feeling as if her belly was expanding by the second. She looked up and saw the images of a man hunting her flashing through her mind.

> You are walking the wrong way, sweetheart. You are walking the wrong way, are you trying to get me mad, Nona?

Her belly grew, and she let out a gasp of pain. The images of a man with hazel eyes hunting her played through her mind, and she began to feel like someone was watching her.

Nona quickened her pace, always looking over her shoulder, hoping to make it home before the pain became too much to bear. But as she turned the corner onto her street, she saw a figure standing in the shadows.

> Why you don't listen to me, bloody girl! I told you to come home! Why don’t you do as told! Why are you trying to get me upset? Why Nona? Why!

Her heart racing, Nona tried to make out who it was, but the darkness obscured their features. She felt a surge of fear coursing through her veins, and her hands shook uncontrollably. She had never felt so much fear as right now.

> You should just get rid of it! We both know you are not fit to be a mother! What a joke, Nona, what a joke!

Just as she was about to break into a run, the figure stepped out of the shadows, and she saw that it was just a neighbourhood cat. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and continued on her way.

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The pain in her belly grew more intense with each step, and Nona felt like she was going to pass out. She stumbled up the steps to her house, barely managing to get the key in the lock before collapsing onto the floor in pain.

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Eske picked up his phone and dialled Robert's number with shaking hands, his heart racing. He was concerned about Nona, who was lying on the bed with a huge belly as if she was near the due date.

'Hi, Robert? It's Eske. Something is wrong with Nona. I don't know what happened. I..., I think she is in pain..., fuck, what do I do?'; his voice shaky with worry.

'Calm down, buddy. What happened?' Robert responded, his tone serious.

Eske took a deep breath before explaining. ‘Well, Nona's pregnant, we all know, but now, and apparently, her belly grew up in a matter of seconds. She looks like she is going to be in labour at any moment. She was in a lot of pain, and I didn't know what to make of it. She passed out. She passed out because of the pain. Help me.'

Stolen story; please report.

Robert was silent for a moment as he processed the information: 'That's certainly unusual.'

Eske said: 'Do you think something could be wrong with the baby?'

Robert paused for a moment, thinking: 'It's hard to say without examining her, but it's possible that it could be a case of rapid fetal growth.'; he said. 'It's rare, but it can happen.'

'What? What the fuck is that?'

'Rapid fetal growth, or macrosomia, is a medical condition in which the fetus grows abnormally fast. This means the baby is larger than average, with a birth weight of 4,000 grams, regardless of gestational age.'

Eske let out a sigh of relief, grateful for Robert's medical expertise: 'So it would be normal in this case? Her belly was flat all this time...'

'While many babies with macrosomia are born without complications, it can increase the risk of difficulties during delivery, such as shoulder dystocia or a need for a cesarean delivery. So my advice is when you guys return, we first stop at the clinic and deliver the baby. Just hang on there, buddy. Soon you are going to clean some stinky diapers.'; Robert suggested. "I'll see if I can schedule the delivery room and have everything ready for Nona.'

Eske thanked Robert and hung up the phone, feeling a bit more at ease.

He paced back and forth in the small bedroom and couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that had settled over him like a heavy blanket. Nona was still passed out, lying motionless on the bed.

But seeing her like this, unresponsive, sent a shiver down his spine.

He rushed to her side, gently shaking her shoulder. 'Nona, can you hear me?' But there was yet to be a response.

Eske felt utterly helpless. He had no idea what to do. Robert's diagnosis gave him some relief, but still, he felt as if he was stuck in a nightmare.

He could feel panic rising in his chest as he tried to think of what to do next. Should he call an ambulance? Should he try to wake her up again? Eske's heart raced as he sat down next to Nona, taking her belly between his hand and kissing it. She looked so small and vulnerable, her face pale and breathing shallow.

He had never felt so powerless in his life. He knew he had to do something but didn't know what. He felt like he was failing his wife and their unborn child.

Eske's mind was racing, and he felt a lump forming in his throat. He reached out to hold Nona's hand, hoping she would somehow feel his love and support.

As he sat there, holding her hand, he realized that he needed to stay calm and focused. He took a deep breath, trying to centre himself and think rationally.

He gently stroked Nona's forehead and whispered words of love and encouragement. 'You're going to be okay, Nona. I'm here for you, and I love you so, so, much. We are going to be okay.'

After what felt like an eternity, Nona stirred, slowly opening her eyes. She looked dazed and confused, but she was conscious.

Eske, let out a sigh of relief, feeling his heart rate return to normal.

Nona moaned softly, her eyes fluttering open.

Relief washed over Eske, and he squeezed her hand tightly. 'You're awake...' he said, tears streaming down his face.

Nona looked up at him, and confusion etched on her face. 'What happened?' she asked weakly.

Eske's voice shook as he explained everything that had happened, his words tumbling out in a rush.

Nona listened silently, her hand gripping his tightly. As he finished, she gave him a small smile. 'It's okay.' she said softly. 'We'll get through this together.'

He leaned over to kiss her forehead. They might not know what was happening, but as long as they had each other, they could face anything. 'Nona, you're still downloading.'

'I know, baby.'

He helped her sit up and offered her some water, feeling grateful for the chance to be there for her at this moment. He knew they would face it together no matter what lay ahead.

'Baby, can I have some coffee instead of water?'

‘No!’

As Eske turned his back, walking towards the kitchen. Nona hid her face and bit the pillow hard, trying to muffle her scream. His face was still hunting her, the man that chased her from Io to Earth. Delbert Day Whiterabbit.

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