Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
NIKA HANSON-MÜHL (narrative) trigger warning! giving birth and pregnancy!
It was a lazy Sunday morning, the kind where the sun peeked through the curtains just enough to make the room glow with warmth. I was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping on my coffee, and Rylee was in the living room, playing with Milo. The familiar comfort of our home made my heart swell. Everything felt right—peaceful, happy, and secure. Life with Rylee had been better than I ever imagined. She was everything I needed, and then some.
But as I sat there, stirring my coffee absently, I noticed something odd. My stomach felt off. Not in the usual way, like after too much coffee or a late-night snack. It was more like a dull ache that wouldn't go away, a strange sensation deep in my gut. I had been feeling a little more tired than usual over the past week, and I couldn't help but wonder.
I pushed the thought aside, chalking it up to stress, work, and the usual life chaos. But then, something made me reach for the small box I had tucked away in the bathroom. A pregnancy test. I hadn't even told Rylee I was thinking about taking it. There was no real reason to suspect anything. Still, the little voice in the back of my mind kept nagging me.
I excused myself to the bathroom, the test in my hand feeling heavier with each step. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I quickly shut the door behind me. I wasn't sure if I was ready for this, but as I stared at the box, something deep inside me knew that maybe, just maybe, this was the moment I'd been waiting for.
I took the test, hands trembling slightly, and after what felt like an eternity, I looked at the result. A wave of disbelief washed over me. I wasn't sure whether I should laugh, cry, or jump up and down. But there it was—positive. The single word flashed back at me, and it was like the world had suddenly shifted.
I blinked a few times, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. Was this really happening? Was I really pregnant?
A wide grin spread across my face, and before I knew it, my hand was over my mouth, suppressing a little squeal of excitement. I was pregnant. We were going to be parents.
I took a deep breath, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts. What would Rylee think? What would she say? I had no idea how to bring this up, but I knew one thing for sure—I couldn't keep this to myself for long. The excitement was bubbling inside me, and I had to share it with her.
I walked back into the kitchen, my heart beating faster with every step. Rylee was still playing with Milo, completely unaware. She was humming to herself, her usual carefree demeanor making me fall in love with her all over again.
"Rylee," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, but the excitement was obvious. She turned to me, her bright eyes lighting up as she saw the look on my face.
"What's going on, babe?" she asked, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "You look like you're about to burst with something."
I held up the pregnancy test, my heart practically exploding in my chest. Her eyes widened as she took in the result.
