May 14th, 2000

The pain I had been feeling in my lower back and pelvis had become increasingly aggravating as the days went on. Prince was concerned that I was going into premature labor, but Dr. Hunt had reassured us days prior that I had only dilated one centimeter. I only had four more weeks to go before I was full term, but I didn't know whether my body or the baby could wait that much longer.

Straddling my birthing ball, I was in the middle of a deep breathing exercise when a rumbling of tiny footsteps brought me back to reality.

"Mommy look what I made!" Noah was grinning from ear to ear as he held the electric yellow poster board inches from my face.

The border was decorated with polaroids of the two of us and little green finger paintings. In the middle of it all read, '10 reasons why I love my mommy'. Written out by my husband, Noah affectionately had listed things like, 'She gives the best hugs' and 'She watches Sesame Street with me.'

"You forgot to tell her something." Prince placed a bouquet of fresh roses and a gold gift bag on the oak coffee table before kneeling down to whisper in Noah's ear.

Listening intently, Noah fell into my arms and belted out, "Happy Mother's Day!" It was still mind-blowing that my precious was almost four years old. I couldn't have been more thankful that God picked me to be his mom.

Popping a squat on the edge of the couch, P managed to steal a kiss from me. He traced the pad of his thumb along my lower lip, studying my face with those large hazel eyes of his. "Jasmin."

"Prince."

"Are you sure that you don't want me to call Dr.Hunt?" He was doing it again. It was one thing to be a doting husband, but rushing to my side every time I winced at any little ache and pain was becoming a tad bit annoying. I was pregnant, not an invalid.

"Baby I'm fine it was just a tiny Braxton Hicks. Chill out and let me open my gift."

As I extended my arm he smirked and kissed his teeth. "You could've at least said please first. Here read the card first."

I appreciated the authenticity behind his homemade card. It read:

"To the strongest woman I know, U are indeed stronger than U think. On the days when U do get weak just lean on me. I love U Mrs. Nelson"

His words were the encouragement I needed when I felt down. I thanked him for being the support beam I never knew i needed.

The first thing in the bag was a custom rose gold charm bracelet with all of our initials and a set of tiny baby feet. But the next gift was by far my favorite.

The leather-bound scrapbook illustrated our relationship from the very beginning. From polaroids we captured of each other hanging around Paisley Park to love letters he sent me while he was on tour. The book chronologically went through our love all the way up until the pictures he took on our honeymoon.

He turned to a blank page in the book and said, "We're going to continue to fill this book up and once it's full we're going to get another one and then another one. I want our grandchildren to know how strong our love is."

There I was, blubbering at how romantic this man could be. Every time I thought we had reached the ocean floor, he continued to show me just how much deeper his love could go.

P really outdid himself with breakfast that morning. He concocted a spread of homemade waffles, scrambled eggs, vegan bacon, toast, his best attempt at grits. They were a little watered down and bland compared to mine, but I had to give him an A for effort since he had burned his thumb in the process and was covered in flour.

Elbow deep in suds as I cleaned our dirty dishes, Prince rushed to answer the ringing house phone before I could even react.

"Hey I hope you're enjoying your Mother's Day so far Alia."

Knowing damn well what mom was calling about, my eyes grew wide. Water dripped onto the bamboo hardwood as I flailed my arms, begging P to tell her I was busy.

His lips curled into a wicked grin, snickering into the receiver. "Oh that beautiful daughter of yours? She's right here, I know she's dying to talk to you."

Nothing about what he did was funny but he continued to laugh as he handed me the phone and hopped his narrow behind onto the kitchen counter.

"Hey ma Happy Mother's Day."

The aggravation was evident in her voice. "Mhm yeah, same to you too." How rude. "I just want to know what time you all were coming over, everyone's dying to see you."

Honestly I was dreading the arrival of this holiday. It was a family tradition for everyone to come together for a Mother's Day luncheon at my grandparent's house. The men would put their culinary skills together and cook up a feast for the women of our family. Everyone was going to be there...that's including Morgan.

I nervously twirled the phone's cord around my pinky while I fed her my excuse. "I know ma. I really do not know when we'll be coming. I'm not sure what else Prince had planned for us but in the meantime I wanted to unpack some more." We had just moved into our newly built home two days prior so I wasn't necessarily lying. It was plenty I needed to do before it really felt like home. "Oh and later on we're going to P's mom's house." That visit in and of itself is a whole 'nother ball game.

A heavy sigh of hers filled my ear. "You can't lie to me. This has everything to do with Morgan coming, I know it does."

She might've been partially right but I wasn't about let her know that. "Momma I have to go. Noah ju—"

She abruptly cut me off. "Jasmin I'm not playing with you, you're not getting an excused absence just because you're pregnant. Granny Ada came all the way from Louisiana with gifts for the baby." My dear great-grandmother Ada, or affectionately known in the family as Big Momma, was the feistiest 96 year old you'd ever meet. I hadn't seen her in almost two years but I didn't want any negativity to spoil our visit. "Ma tell her that if we don't make it over there today, we'll definitely come by on Thursday when we get back from New York."

"Jasmin she's going back to Louisiana on Tuesday."

"Oh."

I wasn't quick with a comeback back so she probably assumed she had me right where she wanted. "Your uncle is going to start barbecuing at 12." According to my family that means don't show up until 3.

Placing the phone back on it's base, I immediately caught P's curious stare. "J we have all of the time in the world to unpack." He came up behind me, slinking his around my large waist. He whispered against the base of my neck, "I just want you to relax mama, let me pamper you okay?"

I was definitely in need of some R&R. "Once I put Noah down for his nap, do you think we could take a nice, warm bubble bath together?"

"Whatever you like."

Prince always gave me the attention I craved and then some. He massaged my aching back while candles flickered in the distance and took the time to paint my toenails a dainty a pale pink.

When I told him that I decided to skip out on the Mother's Day luncheon he told that I should reconsider but my mind was made up. Nonetheless, he somehow convinced me to get out of the house anyways for a peaceful drive. He dropped the top of his Plymouth Prowler, the wispy breeze and vibrant sunshine relaxing me so much so that my head fell back onto the seat and I dozed off.

I didn't even feel the car come to a halt. I was woken up my my son's shrill yell and him kicking the back of my seat.

"Lonzo! Lonzo!" He yelled.

Once I had fully focused my eyesight on my new surrounding, Prince had already taken our son out of his carseat. He ran full speed up my grandfather's driveway and into the arm's of his favorite cousin & partner in crime Alonzo, practically knocking him over.

Opening my car door, when P gently tugged on my hand to help me out I slouched down in my seat and crossed my arms. "I really do hate you. Why couldn't you just let me stay home?"

He chuckled at my spiteful glare, fueling my anger further. "Because it's my job as your husband to aggravate you. Can you please get out of the car, for me?" I didn't want to draw anymore attention than was necessary so I got out. "When we go inside please be nice." As long as she didn't start anything, I was going to play nice.

The front door to my grandparent's house was left ajar, a loud roar of cackling and trash talking seeped outside and immediately gave intense flashbacks from my childhood. Relatives from all over greeted us as we traveled further into the house. Those that hadn't met P yet or simply didn't know we were together were pleasantly surprised, but nonetheless welcomed him into the family.

The den was where many of the women congregated. Vibrant eyes all turned on us and it sounded as if everyone called my name at once. Prince trailed closely behind me as I went down the line and hugged everyone. For a second my aunt Angie was so in awe that she couldn't stop rambling about how talented he was. Mom let out a sigh of relief once she pulled me into her arms. Thinking back on it now, I didn't realize then how much my presence that day meant to her.

A large smile spread across my face once I bent down to hug my great-grandma Ada. Her hands latched onto my large baby bump. "Oooo child! I almost need to give you my seat. Baby you look like you're about to pop my great-great grand baby out any day now."

My face was flushed with happiness. It was no doubt in my mind that I was ready to bring our child into this world, into a family that would shower it with so much love. "Granny, I want you to meet my husband Prince."

Although he was shy at first, Granny brought his hands into her own and pulled him in for a hug."My my you're so handsome. Such a pretty name for a pretty man." She kissed his left cheek and said, "You have to excuse me suga, every time I finish eating I get comfortable and take my teeth out." Even after we sat down on the loveseat she continued to gush about how she couldn't wait to see our pretty baby.

P went to the kitchen to get me a drink leaving me to catch up with my cousin Alanna and her girlfriend. All was well until Morgan came in and spotted me from across the room. My first time seeing her since my bridal shower and I didn't even make eye contact with her. Maybe mom might've said something to her but to my surprise as she took her seat on the piano bench, she called my name.

"Stoney, how have you been? You're glowing."

Staring off into the abyss, I had no intentions of acknowledging her but Alanna pinched my arm and urged me too. "Fine, and yourself?" I paid no attention to the tense faces of those in the room.

"Fine", she peeped. My flat tone left her at a loss of what to say next, and instead she just continued to sip on the liquids in her red solo cup.

I immediately perked up when Prince came back with a bottle of mango juice and not surprisingly a plate of various desserts. I love how he told me to play nice, but he floated past Morgan as if she didn't exist.

I bumped shoulders with him and teased, "P-nut, you're really going to scarf down a slice of pecan pie, red velvet cake, banana pudding, and three chocolate chip cookies?" Some balanced diet he had.

"I could," he handed me one of the plastic forks in his fingers. "But that'd just be plain greedy wouldn't it?"

A short amount of time past before my sister and I's obvious distance proved to be unsettling for our great-grandmother. She slapped Morgan's hand. "Mo if you don't go over there and talk to your sister. I don't know why y'all two are fighting like some hens trapped in a burlap bag."

"Granny leave it alone, please", Morgan pleaded.

"Hush child! Now Jasmin, why are you acting like you're too good to talk to your own flesh and blood?" I didn't answer answer her.  As much as I loved my great-grandma, what happened between us was none of her business. "Jasmin answer me."

The anxiety began to rise inside of me. I felt like if I even tried to delve into this topic I might go off on someone so I did the most respectable thing, leave. Pacing into an empty hallway with Prince hot on my tail, he grabbed my wrist. "Baby wait."

"No Prince! I told you I didn't want to come and what do you do? Bring me here!"

His voice remained calm. "Jazz I just thought that it was important for you to spend time with your family today, I didn't mea—"

I was becoming more irate as I cut him off. "I don't care what you thought, you know I didn't want to come because I knew something was going to happen!"

The walls were closing in on me and uncontrollable tears flowed down my cheeks. The tightness I experienced moments before in my abdomen came back yet again when Morgan appeared behind Prince.

"Stoney can you please talk to me?"

I yelled, "No! Oh my god can you just leave me alone?! No I don't want to talk! I don't have anything to say to anyone that despises what I have because she cant let go of her old feelings!"

I stuck around only long enough to see the pained expression on her face.

Prince's Perspective

I couldn't even begin to explain to you what had occurred before my eyes. I want to blame her lashing out on her hormones because I had never seen her that angry.

By the time I made it outside, she was telling Noah it was time to go. He cried bloody murder the entire ride home because he couldn't stay and play, meanwhile Jasmin just stared out of the passenger window. Once we made it inside the only words she spoke to me were, "Go to your mother's house without us." 

I never told her how much it disappointed me that she backed out of that visit. Once Jazz and I tied the knot, my mother began to warm up to her new daughter-in-law. It disappointed my mother when I told her that Jasmin didn't 'feel well' when I arrived at her house. Seeing the gifts she had lined along the sofa for Jazz, Noah, and the baby really bothered me.

When I returned home that evening I didn't even bother to tell her about the presents, instead I just gave Noah his presents before bed time and placed our child's outfits and stuffed animals in the nursery.

I respected that she needed space, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't hope that all would be forgiven before the sun came up the next morning. I guess you could say it was wishful thinking because I went to bed without her that night.

Unfortunately, I didn't stay asleep for long.

She jostled me out of my sleep and by the time my tired eyes trailed down her frame, I noticed the large wet spot on the front of her sweatpants. Her water had broken. I could see the fear in her face, but she soon hunched over in pain as a contraction took over.

It all happened so fast. She sat on the edge of the bed to catch her breath while I tossed  random belongings of ours into a suitcase. As soon as that contraction was over with it seemed like the next one came at the speed of lightning. My mind was so jumbled I didn't even think of calling her parents. As quick as I could I lifted her into the front seat of her Mercedes truck and frantically strapped Noah in.

As we raced into the night to the hospital I couldn't help but feel like it was a race against time. With every yellow light I approached my speed only accelerated. Agonizing contraction after the next, by the grip she had on my sleeve it was evident that the pain was becoming too much for my wife.

She groaned, "Baby make it stop —oh god it hurts so bad, make it stop!"

But I didn't know what to do, I didn't think it was anything I could do but drive. Minutes away from Minneapolis, I saw her yanking on her seat belt and clenching her teeth in pain. She whimpered as she tugged on the waistband of her pants. "I can't, I can't—I have to push! I have to..." I was as fearful as ever but I had no other choice than to lean over and help her pull them down past her knees.

We were five minutes away from the hospital but our child couldn't wait any longer. In the rearview mirror I saw Noah tearfully cover his ears after hearing Jasmin scream out in pain. She beared down, using every ounce of her to guide our child into this world.

Stopping on the side of the road to assist her may have been the right thing to do but something in me told me to keep driving. As she pushed for the third time, she let out a blood curdling scream. "Ow! Ow! Oh my god the head is out!"

Looking over to her with tears in my eyes I shouted in disbelief. "What?!"

Just as I rounded the corner of E. 28th St. & Chicago Ave, literally within feet of Abbott Northwestern's ER, she beared down one last time and reached down and pulled out our precious angel. Tears ran down my face watching her pull the silent newborn to her chest and undoing the twice-wrapped cord from around its neck. With a gentle pat on it's back, the tiniest cry came out.

"Do we have a son or a daughter?!", I repeatedly asked but she never answered. Coming to a screeching halt in front of the ER, I raced over to the passenger door but once I did I was mortified to see all of the blood pooled on the floor of the car.

"Somebody help us!", I screamed into the crisp night air, hoping my plea was heard from inside the hospital.

Resting her head against the seat, it was concerning how out of breath and weak she was. Her body was cold to the touch yet completely drenched in sweat. I repeatedly asked her if she was alright but all she did was clutch to the crying newborn in her arms. Out of nowhere a forceful pair of arms grabbed me from behind and moved me out of the way. A team of nurses pulled her from the car, placed her and our baby on the gurney and shouted, "She's bleeding out! Get her to the O.R. STAT! We're losing her!!!"

Three burly men in scrubs held me back as they wheeled them away from me. "Jasmin!!! No!! Don't take them away from me!!"

When they left my view it felt like all of the life was being sucked out of me. I blamed myself for those series of events. If I wouldn't have dragged her to her grandparents house the added stress wouldn't have driven her into labor.

Tears clouded my vision as I collapsed to the ground and the walls closed in on me. "She can't go! She can't—" I whimpered. "Don't go...Don't go...Don't go..."

"Prince!", a distance voice called out to me. I continued to plead to God, but I heard the feminine voice again and this time I was being jostled. "Prince!"

My heart practically pounded out of my chest as I turned over in bed to see Jasmin looking at me mortified. It was just a nightmare. I flinched a little as she placed the palm of her hands on both sides of my face.

Her angelic voice tried so hard to soothe me. "Baby look at me. Hey, it was just a nightmare." Without a word, I pulled her into my arms and didn't let go. "Hunny are you okay? You kept saying, 'Don't go' or something like that."

I threw my head back against the down pillows, so traumatized that I would do anything to rid myself of that crazy imaginary ordeal. "It was nothing", I lied. I didn't want to scare her half to death.

"You sure?" I nodded in response. The curiosity still lay behind her piercing orbs but she changed the subject. "P I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lashed out at you since you were doing only what you thought was right."

Bringing her supple lips to mine in a kiss of desperation, I forgave her. I was too far frightened to dwell on what had occurred this past afternoon. I was unaware if that nightmare was just a figment of my imagination or foreshadowing. Nonetheless, that night I could only go back to sleep with her nestled securely in my arms.

A/N: Just had to share one of the songs I listened to while writing this chapter. 💜💜

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]