Months had passed, and life for Lucy Chen had changed in ways she could never have imagined. The quiet bar talks, stolen moments between shifts, and hidden feelings had eventually given way to something much bigger—something she hadn't expected: a baby.
Lucy stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, the early morning light filtering through the window. She hadn't planned on becoming a mother so soon, especially not in the middle of navigating her relationship with Tim. But life had a way of throwing curveballs, and now she found herself facing one of the biggest challenges of her life.
Her body had changed—drastically. She looked down at her stomach, still soft and swollen from the pregnancy, even though her daughter, Emma, was already six months old. Her old uniforms hung in the closet, reminding her of the body she used to have, the one that felt strong, capable, and in control.
Now, Lucy felt like a stranger in her own skin. The physical recovery had been harder than she'd expected. She couldn't run the way she used to. Her stamina was shot, and the weight didn't melt away as easily as she'd hoped. On top of that, the emotional toll of motherhood was relentless. She loved Emma more than anything, but there were days when the exhaustion and self-doubt threatened to swallow her whole.
Lucy sighed and ran a hand through her messy hair, trying to muster the energy to get ready for work. She'd only been back on the job for a month, and every day felt like a test. Could she still be the cop she once was? Could she balance being a mother and a police officer without losing herself in the process?
A knock on the bathroom door pulled her from her thoughts.
"Lucy, you ready?" Tim's voice came through the door, soft but concerned. He was already dressed for the day, his presence calm and reassuring as always. But Lucy knew he was worried about her. He'd been worried ever since the baby was born.
"Yeah, just... give me a minute," she called back, trying to sound more confident than she felt.
Tim had been incredible through the whole pregnancy. When she'd first told him she was pregnant, his reaction had surprised her. He hadn't panicked or distanced himself like she'd feared. Instead, he'd stepped up in ways she never thought possible. He'd been there for every doctor's appointment, every late-night craving, and every moment when she felt overwhelmed.
But now that Emma was here, and they were living the reality of being parents, Lucy couldn't help but feel like she was the one falling short.
She finished getting dressed and opened the door, finding Tim leaning against the wall with Emma in his arms. The sight of them together always made her heart swell. Tim looked natural holding their daughter, his tough exterior softening whenever she was around.
"Everything okay?" he asked, his eyes searching hers. He could always tell when something was off, no matter how hard Lucy tried to hide it.
Lucy forced a smile. "Yeah, just... tired."
Tim raised an eyebrow, not buying her act. He knew her too well for that.
"You've been saying that for weeks," he said gently. "Talk to me. What's really going on?"
Lucy hesitated, her instinct to brush off his concern warring with the need to be honest. She hated admitting how much she was struggling, especially to Tim. He had always been so strong, so composed, and she didn't want him to think she couldn't handle it.
"I just..." She trailed off, unsure of how to put her feelings into words. She looked down at Emma, who was gurgling happily in Tim's arms, and then back up at him. "I don't feel like myself anymore, Tim. My body, it's different. I'm different. I don't know if I'm ever going to be the same cop I was before, or the same person."
Tim's expression softened, and he stepped closer, shifting Emma to his other arm so he could reach out and touch Lucy's shoulder.
"You've been through a lot," he said quietly. "Your body just did something amazing, Lucy. You brought our daughter into this world. It's okay to not feel like your old self right away."
Lucy bit her lip, feeling a lump form in her throat. "But what if I don't ever get back to that? What if I can't be the cop I used to be? What if I can't handle being a mom and this job?"
Tim shook his head, his gaze steady and full of the quiet strength she had always admired in him. "You don't have to do it all at once, Lucy. And you don't have to be perfect. You're already doing more than you realize—being a mom, going back to work, taking care of Emma. You're still the same strong, capable person you were before, even if it feels different right now."
Lucy felt her eyes sting with unshed tears, her emotions threatening to overflow. She hadn't let herself break down since Emma was born, not in front of Tim, not in front of anyone. But standing here now, with him looking at her like he understood every doubt, every fear, it all came rushing to the surface.
"I just... I don't know how to do this," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I don't know how to be me and be a mom and be with you all at the same time."
Tim pulled her into a gentle hug, careful not to jostle Emma, who was still nestled in his arm. Lucy buried her face in his chest, letting herself finally release the tears she had been holding back.
"You don't have to have all the answers right now," Tim said softly, his voice soothing. "We'll figure it out together. One day at a time. Just like we always do."
Lucy nodded against his chest, taking comfort in his words. She had spent so much time worrying about being perfect, about holding it all together, that she had forgotten it was okay to lean on him. Tim wasn't just her partner at work anymore—he was her partner in life. And he was right. They didn't have to have everything figured out today. They just had to keep going, one step at a time.
