Another contraction later they tell us it’s time. Ten centimetres and on the next contraction she is being told to push. Doing what the midwife tells me to, I grip one of Ellis’s thighs in my hand and hold it up against her chest for her so she can focus solely on pushing.

Her face gets even redder as she uses all her energy to bear down with as much force as she can. The pressure looks like it might burst a blood vessel, but I guess the doctors know what they are doing because nobody looks concerned. I can’t help but place light kisses at her temple as she pushes again. The doctors talk about seeing a head but all I can focus on is my Sunshine.

As that contraction passes, Ellis turns her face to me, her face is full of emotion. Pain and determination but there is a softness there still, like having me here brings her comfort no matter how completely useless I feel.

“Liam, I— fuck!” she yells through the searing pain. “I love you.” She breathes out as another contraction rips through her. Time stops for just a moment. She knows I love her; I have told her a million times in a million different ways, but now she has finally said those words herself. After ten years apart, Ellis Ainsley loves me again.

Before I can process that, the whole room splinters apart as the doctor tells us the head is out, I tell her over and over how much I love her, how proud of her I am as she prepares to push again. A mantra of affection. Ellis pushes again and the room buzzes with the first cry of our baby girl.

Just like that – I’m a dad.

The nurse welcomes her into our world and she marks the time of birth. I let out a watery chuckle. Today will be her birthday, for every year ahead. 1st September.

One of the nurses moves Ellis’s gown out of the way to lay the baby down on her exposed chest. The baby is covered in blood, yet she is beautiful. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

Every part of her is so much smaller than I could ever imagine as she grunts and cries about being out in the world. Her scrunched face rests against Ellis’s heartbeat as I look at my girls in awe.

Ellis whispers to the baby, private words for just the two of them before the nurse picks her up again, asking me if I want to cut the cord. I try to take in the instructions but all I can think about is making sure I don’t hurt her as I snip it. It’s tougher than I expected, then with all of the expertise that can only come from years of practice the nurse wraps a blanket around the baby before handing her to me to hold.