The evening stars

Second strip

When Stephen and Sophie returned to Italy, Rome greeted them with fresh air and bright sunlight. They arrived at the building in the city center, immersed in greenery and sophistication. The street was filled with boutiques of famous designers, and the spirit of history and luxury lingered in the air. Stephen's apartment in this building occupied an entire floor.

— Are we not going to your parents'? — Sophie asked when they stopped at the entrance.

— Oh no, — Stephen smiled, — we will live in the city, it's more convenient. You won't have to spend time on the road every day.

They entered the apartment, which was filled with natural light. High ceilings, large windows overlooking the streets of Rome, spacious rooms, and a stylish interior immediately impressed Sophie.

— It's very beautiful here, — she said, looking out the window, enjoying the view of the boutiques and the old buildings.

Stephen approached her from behind, gently embraced her, tenderly kissing her neck. His touch evoked a feeling of warmth and tranquility in her.

— I still can't believe that this is all not a dream, — he whispered softly, a slight smile on his lips. — You're really here, with me.

Sophie turned to him, looking into his eyes, filled with tenderness and happiness.

— I'm glad to be here, — she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck and feeling completely in harmony. — And Sky is happy too.

While unpacking their suitcases, they talked about their upcoming plans. Stephen spoke first, glancing at the calendar:

— By the way, we could go to Sicily for New Year. My parents recently bought a house on the coast. They say the sunsets there are incredible. I think you'll like it.

Sophie nodded enthusiastically, her eyes lit up with anticipation.

— Of course, yes! How can I refuse something like this? — she exclaimed enthusiastically. — This is going to be amazing!

Stephen smiled, watching her reaction. It was important for him to see her joy and how she fits into his life here in Italy.

Sophie went into the bathroom to organize her cosmetics and hygiene products. She was carefully arranging everything on the shelves when her gaze lingered on a pack of pads. At that moment, her heart seemed to stop for a moment. She froze with the pads in her hands, placed them on the sink, and quickly took out her phone. Thoughts swirled in my head as my fingers nervously glided over the screen, opening the menstrual cycle calendar.

Her heart raced when the app showed a delay. It was so unexpected that Sophie froze for a few seconds, staring at the screen. She has always had a regular cycle, and now this delay was the first alarming signal. She exhaled, trying to compose herself and focus.

— I need a pregnancy test, — she thought, but she didn't want to tell Steven about it too soon. She wanted to be sure before discussing it with him.

Deciding that she needed to act quickly, Sophie stepped out of the bathroom and headed towards Steven, trying not to reveal her anxiety.

— Do you mind if I go to the store... alone? — she asked, trying to keep her voice calm, even though inside she was boiling with anxiety.

Stephen looked at her in surprise.

— You don't know Italian, do you?

— I can handle it, — Sophie forced a smile. — I'll translate everything in the translator, I just need one thing. I'll be back quickly.

He seemed a bit worried, but he didn't insist.

— Alright, — he agreed, shrugging his shoulders. — I'll continue sorting through things for now.

Sophie leaned down and kissed him on the lips, trying to give herself confidence. Then she quickly threw on a coat and ran out of the apartment.

She immediately headed to the nearest pharmacy they had seen on the way. Her thoughts were tangled, but she tried to stay focused. Approaching the counter, Sophie found the necessary word with the help of a translator and showed it on the screen to the pharmacist. He understood her immediately and, without asking any questions, handed her the needed package.

Sophie quickly paid and, clutching the small box in her hands, hurried back home. Her heart was pounding wildly, and every second she tried to convince herself that everything would be alright, no matter the outcome.

Returning home, Sophie was filled with anxiety but tried to hide it as she headed straight to the bathroom. She closed the door behind her, leaving Steven to sort through the things in the other room. In her hands, there was still a small package that she had bought at the pharmacy. The heart was beating too fast, and the hands were trembling a little.

Opening the box, Sophie carefully read the instructions, even though she knew perfectly well how the test worked. She did everything as instructed: she urinated on the paper strip and carefully placed it on the sink. Now all that was left was to wait.

This wait felt like an eternity to her. Time seemed to slow down, each second felt like an entire hour. Sophie couldn't take her eyes off the test, and thoughts swirled in her head like a whirlwind: "What if this is true?" What if I really am pregnant? "How will this change my life?"

She started to nervously bite her lip, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the edge of the shell. Finally, the second line began to appear on the white strip. Barely visible at first, it became clearer with each passing second.

Sophie felt her breathing slow down, and it was as if something inside her had snapped. The second line indicated that she was pregnant. Her heart raced wildly, and her eyes involuntarily filled with tears.

— Dammit...— she whispered, unable to believe her eyes. — It couldn't have happened so quickly.

Everything she felt blended into one. Joy, fear, anxiety — emotions overwhelmed her completely. She slowly sank down onto the cold bathroom tiles, feeling her body grow heavy. In her hands, she still held the test, unable to let it go, as if it could confirm or deny what was happening. She didn't know how to tell Steven about the pregnancy. Doubts overwhelmed her: "How will he react?" Will he be happy? "Is he ready for such a turn of events?" It was an important event, and she didn't want to rush the news.

Sighing, Sophie realized that now was not the time. They had just returned to Italy, started a new life, and ahead of them was a trip to Sicily. There, amidst the tranquility and beauty of the island, where she will spend time with Stephen's parents, she will have the opportunity to think everything through carefully and choose the right moment.

"On Sicily..." Yes, I will tell him there. "This will be the best time," she decided, getting up from the floor and carefully hiding the test. She looked at herself in the mirror: the tension was still evident in her eyes, but now there was also the realization that a new chapter of life awaited her.

Sophie took a deep breath, trying to regain her calm. Stepping out of the bathroom, she smiled as if nothing had happened and walked over to Steven, who was still sorting through the things. Her heart was pounding loudly, thoughts were tangled in her mind, but one thing was clear — her life would change forever now.