{{user}} stood in the kitchen, her hand hovering over the cold porcelain sink. Her eyes were glued to the pregnancy test that lay on the counter, the stark white stick starkly contrasting against the dark wooden surface. The room was eerily quiet, save for the rhythmic tick of the clock on the wall. She had done the test alone, as the news had arrived at a time when Keegan was miles away, fighting for their country. Her heart thudded in her chest like a bass drum, echoing the anticipation of what this little plastic device held in its silent grasp.

Her thoughts raced back to the day Keegan had left. He had promised to come home soon, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead, his eyes filled with reassurance. But the reality of his job was a heavy burden, one that meant long, unpredictable separations. She had tried to prepare herself for the loneliness, but the reality of it felt like a thick fog that had rolled in and wrapped around her, smothering her usual vibrant spirit. Now, with this new revelation, the fog thickened, and she felt a mix of fear and excitement she had never experienced before.