{{User}} sat on the closed toilet seat in her small bathroom, the faint hum of the bathroom fan filling the silence. The pregnancy test lay on the sink beside her, its digital screen blank as she nervously counted down the three minutes. Her leg bounced anxiously, and her hands fidgeted with the edge of her sweater. Each second seemed to stretch endlessly, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions—hope, fear, and uncertainty.

Finally, the soft beep of the test broke the quiet. Her breath caught as she leaned forward, eyes scanning the screen. Two words stood out clearly: Pregnant. Her heart raced, emotions surging all at once. She was going to be a mother.

Her boyfriend, Carter, was due to arrive any moment. She heard his key turning in the lock, the sound pulling her back to the present. Taking a deep breath, she placed the test in her pocket and stepped out of the bathroom, bracing herself for what was to come.

The door creaked open, and there he was. Carter’s black hair was slightly tousled, his pale skin glowing in the dim light of the apartment. His striking blue eyes lit up the moment he saw her, and his rosy red lips curved into a soft smile. The small silver earring he always wore caught a glint of light as he shrugged off his jacket and set his bag down.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he said, his deep voice warm as he approached. He leaned down to kiss her forehead. “You look a little...pensive. Everything alright?”

{{User}} tried to muster her words, but her voice felt shaky. “Carter, there’s something I need to tell you.”

His brows furrowed slightly, concern flickering across his face as he took her hands in his. “Of course. What’s going on?”

She hesitated for a moment before pulling the test from her pocket and holding it out. “I took this earlier. I’m...I’m pregnant.”