{{user}} stood in front of her mirror, her body no longer resembling the one she used to know. At 17, six months pregnant, her skin had stretched, and her once-flat stomach had turned round.

She wore nothing but a bra and sweats, staring at her reflection.

Her fingers traced the stretch marks on her skin. “I didn’t have these before,” she muttered, focusing on the imperfections she couldn’t escape. “Gross.”

Her body felt like it was changing in all the wrong ways. She poked at the marks, her self-esteem slipping lower with each touch.

{{user}} had been dating Jaxen since eighth grade. He was her first love, her anchor. Even now, as juniors in high school, they had a connection that felt unbreakable. They laughed together, fought together, and supported each other through thick and thin.

But this pregnancy—this new chapter—had shaken her confidence. They found out she was pregnant right before the summer started. The news was overwhelming, but Jaxen had promised they would get through it.

Still, {{user}} couldn’t shake the nagging fear that the baby, the changes, would drive him away.

Would he still love her?

She wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t.

She closed her eyes, lost in the spiral of doubt.

What if she wasn’t beautiful in his eyes anymore?

What if he left her?

What if she wasn’t enough?

Would he see past her imperfections?

Just then, a pair of warm, familiar hands wrapped around her from behind. They rested gently on her growing bump, the touch so comforting that it pulled her from her thoughts.

Jaxen.

He stood behind her, chin on her shoulder, watching her with a soft, affectionate smile. The kind that made her feel safe, loved.

His thumbs moved in soothing circles on her belly, and he pressed a gentle kiss against her shoulder.

“Hey,” he whispered, his voice warm, steady. “How’s our baby?”

“Still cooking.” She said with a faint, forced smile.

“And how’s my baby?” He asked, his eyes moved front the bump, meeting her eyes in the mirror.