Nova [Tayvis Fanfiction]

EQUINOX

12 Weeks Until Due Date
Taylor Swift's Point of View
I lie curled up in bed, my arms gently wrapped around my belly as if to shield myself from everything beyond this room. The baby kicks softly, a reminder that she's growing, that time is moving forward, even if I feel like I'm stuck, waiting for something I'm not even sure will come. I'm in my third trimester now, and the kicks have become a daily comfort and a bittersweet reminder. Each one is a tiny lifeline, grounding me in this new reality while my mind spirals through what-ifs.

It's been two weeks since Travis woke up, and in all that time, there's been nothing—no word, no questions, not even a hint of interest in our child or in picking up the pieces of whatever we had. I've tried to reason with myself, telling myself he's still adjusting, that he needs time. But it's hard not to feel like I've turned into a stranger, like the bond we built is lost in the fog of his memory loss, slipping further away every day.

Twelve weeks. My due date is twelve weeks away, and what used to be a countdown centered on the hope that Travis would wake up, that he'd be okay, has shifted into something different—a quiet, aching countdown toward the birth of our daughter and the uncertainty of what comes after. Will he be there for her? For us? Even if he doesn't remember us the way I do, will he try to build something new, or am I destined to do this alone?

I feel my breath catch as another kick presses against my hand. It's a reminder that she's here, that she's real, and that soon, she'll be in my arms. I'll be her world, and she'll be mine. But the idea of doing it without Travis, of building this future alone, leaves a hollow ache in my chest that I don't know how to fill. I try to blink back the tears, but it's no use—they spill over, tracing silent paths down my cheeks as I stare into the darkness, wondering how we ended up here and if there's any way back.

My phone rings, jolting me out of my thoughts. I fumble around, wiping the dampness from my cheeks, and finally manage to grab it. "Hello?"

"Taylor, it's Kylie," comes her familiar voice, a welcome reminder of the outside world.

"Oh, hey, Kylie." My voice sounds groggy, distant, even to me.

"Are you still cooped up?" she asks, sounding half-concerned, half-playful.

I sigh. "Yeah... what do you need?"

"Travis wants to see you," she says, and her words seem to pierce through the fog around me. "He's in physical therapy right now, but by the time you get here..."

I don't even wait for her to finish. "Sure, I'll be there." The phone call ends, and I'm already swinging myself out of bed, a new sense of urgency taking over. I glance down at my belly and pat it gently, feeling the faint press of another kick in response.

"We're going to see your dad, baby girl," I whisper, smoothing my hand over my stomach.

I pull myself together quickly, slipping on a comfortable outfit and running my fingers through my hair, just to feel a little less disheveled. Before I know it, I'm out the door, my heart racing with hope and nerves as I head to the hospital, counting down each step closer to Travis.

When I walk into Travis's room, he's sitting on the small sofa, dressed in a simple t-shirt and sweatpants. I'm not sure how he's comfortable, considering it's the dead middle of winter, and the room feels like an icebox.

I tap softly on the doorframe before stepping in. "Hey, it's me."

Travis looks up at me, and his face breaks into a tired but warm smile. "Hey." He gestures to the spot next to him. "Sit down."

I hesitate for a second, then pull up a chair and sit across from him, our eyes locking. I can see the faint remnants of his old self in the way his lips curve, but the rest of him still feels distant, like a stranger.