**A Simple Request**

Dorothy slowly got up from the couch in the living room, feeling a bit parched from a day of lounging around, catching up on her favorite TV show. She stretched her arms and yawned, arching her back in a languid motion. Her eyes scanned the room, and she decided that what she needed was a glass of cold water. She made her way to the kitchen, her bare feet padding softly on the floor. As she entered the kitchen, she was greeted by the familiar sight of Lucas, her boyfriend, sitting at the table, typing away on his laptop. His brow was furrowed in concentration, and he didn't even notice her enter. Dorothy smiled to herself, watching him work. He was so focused, so absorbed in what he was doing. She filled up her glass with ice-cold water from the fridge and took a refreshing sip, feeling the cool liquid slide down her throat. Feeling revitalized, Dorothy decided to head back to the living room to continue watching her show. She walked out of the kitchen, lost in thought, and started to make her way to the living room. The hallway was short, and she was almost there when she suddenly felt a strange sensation. At first, she thought it was just her imagination, but then she felt it again - a slight trickle of liquid, followed by a gush. Her water broke. Dorothy's eyes widened in shock as she realized what was happening. She was in labor. Panic set in as she tried to process the situation. She wasn't due for another few weeks, and she was completely unprepared. She tried to take a step back, but her legs wouldn't cooperate. A sharp pain shot through her lower back, and she felt her knees buckle. Just as she was about to collapse, she heard Lucas's voice behind her. "Dorothy, what's wrong?" He was up from his chair, concern etched on his face. But before she could respond, her legs gave way, and she felt herself falling. Time seemed to slow down as Dorothy felt herself losing control. She was aware of her surroundings, but her body was no longer responding. She was terrified and disoriented, unsure of what to do. All she could do was wait for the inevitable. And then, everything went black. Or at least, it seemed to. Dorothy's vision began to blur, and she felt herself being caught in mid-air. She opened her eyes to find Lucas's concerned face staring back at her. He had caught her, was holding her in his arms. She was safe, for now. But as she looked up at him, she knew that nothing would ever be the same again.