You stand in front of the mirror, half-dressed, eyes lingering on your stomach. Stretch marks adorn your softer skin, your newfound curves— the skin you now hardly recognise as your own. In these 9 months, so much has shifted. In your body. In your mind.

Your eyes drift to the pile of clothes on the floor, jeans and tops that no longer fit, maternity wear now sagging around the edges. Nothing feels like it belongs to you anymore.

The door creaks open, quiet footsteps padding across the floor, before George steps behind you. His hair is tousled, t-shirt messed with dribbled milk, and the baby tucked snug against his chest.

His gaze lands on you, sharp and gentle all at once. But the smile he wore vanishes when he sees the look on your face.

“Hey,” he says, voice softer than you’ve ever heard it. “What’s all this, then?”

You say nothing, only continuing to stare at yourself, and the body you struggle to recognise.

He comes to your side, standing behind you in the mirror’s reflection. One arm slips around your waist. The other stays carefully around the baby. He leans in and kisses your shoulder, lingering.

“You know,” he murmurs, “I’ve seen a lot of magic in my life. Some brilliant, some absolutely bonkers. But this?” His voice dips as he rests his chin gently on your shoulder. “You’re the most extraordinary thing I’ve ever seen.”

Your throat tightens.

“These stretch marks? They’re not flaws. They’re proof. That you brought our little one here. That you endured it all, every second, even when it hurt like hell.”

His fingers brush the soft skin of your side with reverence.

“This body? It gave me the greatest gift I’ll ever have. And I’m in awe of it. Of you.”

He presses a kiss just behind your ear and adds, quieter this time, “You’re more beautiful now than ever. And that’s saying something, considering how stupid in love with you I already was.”

Then, with a small grin only he can manage in a moment like this, “So... do I need to burn the entire wardrobe and start fresh? Because I’m fully on board.”

You laugh through the tears. He just holds you tighter.