Chapter 11: A Sudden Shift

A few weeks had passed since that idyllic afternoon when Ashley and Avan had discovered the quaint bookstore, Moonlit Pages. Their lives had settled into a comfortable routine, with laughter, exploration, and a deepening connection. However, as the days went by, Ashley began to notice a change within herself. She felt nauseous in the mornings, and certain smells that she had previously enjoyed now made her stomach turn. At first, she brushed it off as a minor bug or a side effect of something she had eaten. But as the days went by, the sensations persisted. She found herself becoming increasingly sensitive to smells, and her mood swings had become more pronounced. One moment she would be fine, and the next, she would be overcome with emotion, feeling tearful and irritable. As she lay in bed one morning, Ashley couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. She reached for her phone to check the date and noticed that she was late. Her heart skipped a beat as she did the math in her head. She was supposed to get her period in a few days, but now she was already a week overdue. Panic set in as she jumped out of bed, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. What if she's pregnant? The thought sent a wave of anxiety through her body. Ashley and Avan hadn't discussed having kids yet, and their relationship was still new. They had talked about their future, but that was a conversation they had both agreed to have in a few months' time. Ashley's hands began to tremble as she thought about the implications. What would Avan say? Would he be ready for this? They had always been careful, but maybe they had been too caught up in the moment to think about protection. She tried to calm herself down, telling herself that she was probably just stressed about nothing. But the doubt lingered, gnawing at her mind like a persistent itch. Ashley knew she had to take a pregnancy test, but the thought of it filled her with dread. As she stood there, frozen in uncertainty, Ashley couldn't help but think about how quickly her life had changed. Just a few weeks ago, she was carefree and happy, enjoying every moment with Avan. Now, she was faced with the possibility of a life-changing event that could alter the course of their relationship forever. Ashley took a deep breath and tried to gather her thoughts. She knew she had to talk to Avan, but she wasn't sure how to bring it up. She couldn't just blurt it out without being sure herself. She needed to take the test, and then they could face whatever came next together. With a newfound sense of determination, Ashley headed to the bathroom to try and find some answers. She would take the test, and then she would know. But as she stood there, her heart pounding in her chest, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine.