Discussing this was something they should have done before she took the potion, not after. For now all she dreamed of doing was curling up into the tightest ball imaginable and riding out the tidal waves of grief. However, Ben seemed intent on talking her through it, and she had no fight left to give.

"Yes." Melody sighed. "The book said it would be painful, more akin to birth than  the normal monthly pains..." She trailed off, uncertain of what Ben knew (if anything) about a woman's monthlies. Surely he hadn't had to have this conversation before? Melody frowned. Had he had this conversation before?