𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬

𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝟓𝟎

Sadira sat on her couch, her knees pulled up to her chest as she scrolled through endless videos on her phone. She had been up since dawn, falling down a rabbit hole of parenting tips, baby care advice, and first-time-mom survival guides. Her mind raced with the kind of worry that only seemed to come at night when the world was quiet, and her thoughts had room to wander. She felt a mixture of excitement and nerves bubbling in her chest, a cocktail of emotions that was impossible to shake.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed, pulling her out of the daze. It was a text from Davis.

"Open the door in 15 minutes. Got something for you."

Her heart skipped a beat. Davis was always doing sweet things like this, small gestures that reminded her of just how much he cared. She smiled softly, placing her phone on the coffee table and making her way to the door.

Fifteen minutes later, as promised, she heard a faint knock on her door. She opened it to find a DoorDash bag sitting on the porch, and as she picked it up, the scent of jerk chicken pasta hit her. Her stomach, which had been a bit queasy all day, suddenly growled with hunger. But that wasn't all—there was a bouquet of flowers, the most beautiful arrangement of roses and sunflowers she had ever seen, wrapped in soft tissue paper. Her eyes widened as she gently picked up the bouquet, the smell of fresh blooms filling the air around her.

With a grin stretching across her face, she carried everything inside, setting the flowers down on the kitchen counter and the food on the coffee table. She grabbed her phone and texted Davis back.

"You are too sweet. The flowers, the food... I love it all. I really don't deserve you, Davis."

She sat down, popping open the container of pasta. The warmth of the dish filled the room, and as she took her first bite, she couldn't help but close her eyes in satisfaction. It was exactly what she needed after the day she'd been having.

Sadira glanced over at the flowers again, feeling her heart swell. Davis was the kind of man who always knew how to lift her spirits, even when she didn't ask for it. And lately, she had been feeling all sorts of emotions—happiness, fear, doubt. Being pregnant had flipped her world upside down. She loved the idea of being a mom, but there were so many unknowns, and that terrified her. What if she wasn't good enough? What if she messed up? What if she couldn't handle the pressure?

She pushed those thoughts aside for a moment, focusing on the good. She picked up her phone again and decided to dive back into her research. Over the past few days, she had started watching every parenting video she could find. She didn't want to go into this blind, not when there was so much to learn. She bookmarked videos on swaddling, breastfeeding, and newborn sleep schedules. She watched how to change a diaper, soothe a crying baby, and get them to latch for the first time.

And it wasn't just videos—Sadira had even ordered a stack of parenting books. They were scheduled to arrive later this week, and she was already planning to dive into them headfirst. She wasn't about to leave anything to chance.

As she scrolled through her saved videos, she felt a little more confident, though the nerves were still there. A part of her couldn't believe she was going to be a mother. It still felt surreal. She had always imagined this moment, but now that it was happening, it was different. Real. And in all honesty, a bit overwhelming.

Her phone buzzed again—another text from Davis.

"You deserve everything, Ma. I love you."

A soft sigh escaped her lips, and her eyes welled up with emotion. Davis was her rock, and right now, she needed that stability. She thought back to the conversation they had earlier that morning, how she had broken down and told him her fears. She had felt so vulnerable, unsure if she was ready to bring a child into this world, worried she wouldn't be good enough. Davis had been there, his voice steady and reassuring, telling her that everything would be okay, that they were in this together.

But even with his reassurances, the doubt still lingered. She picked at her food, her appetite fading as her thoughts spiraled again. What if she couldn't handle the sleepless nights? What if she didn't bond with the baby right away? What if the labor was too much for her? There were too many what-ifs, and they gnawed at her relentlessly.

Sadira glanced at the bouquet of flowers again, a reminder of Davis' thoughtfulness. He believed in her, but did she believe in herself? She had always been the strong one, the one who kept things together. But this was different. This was uncharted territory, and she didn't know if she was ready for it.

The sound of the doorbell broke through her thoughts. She blinked, realizing she had been sitting there lost in her worries. She stood up and walked over to the door, half-expecting it to be another delivery. When she opened it, there was a small package on the doorstep.

Her books. They had arrived early.

She picked up the box and brought it inside, setting it on the counter next to the flowers. With a deep breath, she opened the box and pulled out the stack of parenting guides she had ordered. The first one on the pile was What to Expect When You're Expecting. She had heard good things about it from friends and online, so she was eager to dive in. But as she flipped through the pages, the weight of it all hit her again.

This was really happening. She was going to be a mother.

Her hands trembled slightly as she held the book. She sat back down on the couch, pulling her legs up under her and resting the book on her lap. She stared at the cover for a moment, then glanced down at her stomach, still flat for now but holding so much potential. A tiny life was growing inside of her, and it was up to her to protect and nurture it. The responsibility felt enormous.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and before she could stop them, they spilled over. She wasn't sure why she was crying—maybe it was the hormones, maybe it was the fear, or maybe it was just the sheer weight of everything hitting her at once. She wiped her face with the back of her hand, but the tears kept coming.

She missed Davis. He had a way of calming her down, making everything seem less daunting. She wished he was here now, holding her, telling her that everything would be okay. But he was at work, and she didn't want to bother him with her anxiety.

She picked up her phone and texted him again.

"I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I miss you."

She set the phone down, not expecting a response right away since she knew he was probably busy. But less than a minute later, her phone buzzed.

"I'll be home soon, Ma. We'll get through this together. I love you."

Sadira smiled through her tears, feeling a little lighter. She knew Davis meant every word. He was her partner, her love, and soon-to-be the father of their child. No matter what, they would figure this out together.

She closed the parenting book and leaned back against the cushions, letting her head rest on the back of the couch. The jerk chicken pasta, the flowers, the books—it was all part of Davis showing her how much he cared. And even though the journey ahead was uncertain, Sadira knew one thing for sure: with Davis by her side, she could do this.