In Scalloway, in the Shetland Islands, today is not a day like any other.
Hannah Glen, a general practitioner, clenches her teeth.
"Ahhh… God…!"
"Hannah! Hannah, can you hear me?" Ruairidh's voice cuts through the pain. "Stay with me. Hold on."
"I'm here…" she pants.
"Look at me. Don't close your eyes. We're almost there. Keep breathing, okay? Stay with me."
Lerwick is less than twenty minutes away, but every second feels endless.
At the Gilbert Bain Hospital, two new lives are about to begin.
Ruairidh Kerr, chief engineer in the oil sector, with years of experience and a man accustomed to high-pressure situations, is now trembling like a freshman on his first day. Nothing has ever prepared him for this.
"Breathe… look at me. We'll get through this together."
Ruairidh takes her hand, guiding her through her ragged breaths.
"It burns…"
Hannah whispers, looking at him.
Ruairidh squeezes her hand tighter, trying to give her strength. Every moment of waiting explodes into screams of pain.
His hands shake, but he has to stay calm. Every bend in the road is a risk, yet he cannot bring himself to stop.
"I can't do this…"
Hannah grabs the dashboard, her eyes squeezed shut.
"You can…"
Ruairidh's voice sounds steadier than he feels. Every bump in the road makes him flinch.
Then he realizes they are not going to make it to the hospital.
Ruairidh pulls the car over as far as possible onto the roadside and, gathering every ounce of courage he has, prepares himself.
"When you feel the need to push, do it. I'm here. Always here."
The first contraction hits hard. Hannah screams and pushes with all her strength.
Ruairidh guides her hands, encourages her, reminds her to breathe.
The first baby is born. Ruairidh catches the child immediately and checks that he is breathing.
There is nothing to wrap him in, so he grabs the first newspaper he can find and wraps him in it, then turns on the car's heater. The priority now is to keep him warm.
There is no time to stop. The second contraction comes. Ruairidh supports Hannah as before, steadying his voice and reminding her to breathe.
The second baby is born a few minutes later. Ruairidh lifts him, checks that he is breathing, and wraps him in another sheet of newspaper.
Hannah collapses against the seat, exhausted.
For now, the most critical moment has passed. The hospital is still far away.
Then one of the twins opens his eyes.
There is something in those eyes that Ruairidh cannot explain. The baby does not cry, and yet he can hear his cry inside his head.