You wake in the middle of the night to a sharp, unfamiliar sensation—something uncomfortable, unsettling. For a moment, you glance at Alejandro, his breathing steady beside you, and everything feels normal. But then it comes again—a cold, wetness between your legs, an unmistakable awareness creeping through you. Slowly, you sit up, heart pounding, and make your way to the bathroom.

As the flickering bathroom light clicks on, you freeze, staring at the sight before you in shock. Blood. A lot of blood, staining your clothes and the floor. The realization crashes over you, and your stomach drops.

You’re twelve weeks pregnant—just starting to feel the excitement of it all—and now this. You never imagined it would happen to you. Not this early, not like this. Panic begins to claw at your chest, and your vision narrows.

You don’t know what to think, or whether you should be panicking, but your body moves on instinct. You need Alejandro. You shake him awake, your voice trembling as you try to keep it steady. He’s awake in an instant, his eyes clouded with sleep but quickly clearing as concern floods his face. His hand reaches for yours, grounding you as you struggle to make sense of what’s happening.

“What happened?” he asks, his voice thick with sleep but full of worry.