A hundred heartbeats (7th month)

Allie stood at the back door of the mother-in-law suite, bracing herself for the journey ahead. At seven months pregnant, her belly had grown into something truly unbelievable. It jutted out in front of her, almost twice the length of her entire body, a massive dome that sagged down and overflowed from the wheelbarrow she used for support. The belly itself hung low, the weight of so many babies stretching her skin impossibly tight, but soft to the touch, rippling with even the smallest movements.

She groaned slightly as she leaned forward to grab the handles of the wheelbarrow, feeling the familiar sensation of her belly shifting heavily, swaying like a pendulum. The weight was daunting—her stomach, so enormous now, dominated her body in a way that made her former self feel like a distant memory. It was impossible to see her feet, and the curve of her belly seemed to defy gravity as it extended outwards. The top half was cradled inside the wheelbarrow, but several feet of it sagged off the front, dangling close to the ground with every push.

Each time she took a step, her belly would bounce and jiggle, the babies inside shifting slightly, a gentle but constant reminder of the hundred little lives she carried. The sensation was overwhelming—her whole body felt soft, round, but at the same time, incredibly powerful. She had never thought she would feel physically strong, but these last few months had changed that. Carrying this much weight every day had made her body tough in ways she hadn’t expected. Her arms were stronger, her legs more muscular, even if they were constantly trembling under the pressure. It was real strength—earned from pushing and pulling, from carrying not just her belly, but her entire changed body.

Still, none of that made the trek to the front yard any easier.

Allie grimaced as she pushed the wheelbarrow forward, her fingers gripping the handles tightly. The wheelbarrow’s creaking wheel fought against the pressure of her oversized belly, which bobbed and wobbled with every motion. The sheer size of it was almost mesmerizing. It stretched so far in front of her that it felt surreal, like it didn’t belong to her. Her hips had widened considerably to balance the weight, and her chest, rested gently atop the massive belly, rising and falling with her labored breaths.

Each step forward was a challenge. The lush grass felt thicker than it ever had before, dragging her down, forcing her to dig in and use every ounce of strength she could muster. Her belly swung from side to side, bouncing with her movements, sloshing gently as her babies repositioned themselves. The sight of it was almost hypnotic—so large that it seemed impossible for her to even stand, let alone walk. And yet, she did, one foot in front of the other, pushing the overflowing wheelbarrow along the familiar path.

“Come on, Allie, you’ve got this,” she muttered under her breath, her voice strained as she continued forward.

But the truth was, she wasn’t sure she *did* have this. Not anymore. She had felt metaphorical strength before, a sense of pride in the transformation her body had undergone. But now, at seven months, that pride had been replaced with a gnawing fear. Dr. Patel had warned her—the eighth month would be the most difficult. The babies would experience their biggest growth spurt, and somehow, her belly would become even bigger, heavier, more cumbersome than it already was. How was that even possible? How could her body possibly stretch more than it already had?

Allie’s breaths came out in ragged gasps as she neared the halfway point. The front yard seemed miles away, and she could feel the deep ache in her lower back as her belly continued to sway and jiggle, its weight pressing down relentlessly. Every inch of her felt swollen, her legs wobbling with the effort of supporting her massive belly. Sweat dripped down her face, her arms trembling as she gripped the wheelbarrow tighter, determined not to stop.

She had to keep going. She *had* to.

With a grunt, Allie gave one final push, the wheelbarrow lurching forward. Her belly jostled, bouncing up and down in waves as the babies shifted, pressing against her from the inside. Her breath caught as she felt them all move at once, a ripple of life that passed through her like a wave. Her stomach bulged even more in response, a testament to just how much space her children were taking up.

How could she possibly get bigger than this?

The thought haunted her as she pushed onward, her body jiggling and swaying with every labored step. Even now, she could feel the strain on her skin, the heaviness of her chest and hips making her whole body feel like it was on the verge of bursting. But she had learned something over the past few months: she was stronger than she ever thought possible.

As she finally reached the front yard, Allie let go of the wheelbarrow with a gasp, her arms and legs trembling uncontrollably. She leaned heavily against the wall, her belly bouncing gently as it settled back into place. The delivery bag was there, as always, waiting for her. She bent down, her massive belly pressing against her thighs as she grabbed the bag, her mind already dreading the walk back.

But as she stood there, her enormous belly jiggling softly, the babies inside still stirring, Allie took a deep breath. Yes, the eighth month would be tough—she had no doubt about that. But she had come this far, and if there was one thing she had learned, it was that her body was capable of more than she had ever imagined.

She adjusted her grip on the wheelbarrow’s handles and gave a wry smile, her belly swaying in front of her like a proud banner.

“Two more months,” she whispered to herself, “We can do this.”