New Beginnings

A few weeks had passed since the shocking revelation that Ashley and Alev were having a baby boy, and now Ashley was 26 weeks pregnant. The baby was kicking like crazy, and she could feel its little feet and hands moving around inside her. She laughed as she lay on her back, her hands cradling her belly, and Alev sat beside her, smiling at her antics. "You love this, don't you?" he asked, his eyes shining with amusement. Ashley grinned. "I love it. I feel like I'm getting to experience everything twice, with Emma's memories and now the baby's movements." Alev nodded, taking her hand in his. "I'm glad I get to share this with you. And with Emma... well, I know it's not the same, but I feel like she's still a part of this journey with us." Ashley's eyes misted over as she thought about their little girl. It was her first birthday since Emma had passed away, and Ashley was still feeling the weight of her grief. But with the baby on the way, she was starting to feel a sense of hope and renewal. As they sat there, Alev mentioned that they should start prepping the nursery. Ashley nodded enthusiastically, and they began making plans to turn the spare room into a beautiful space for their little boy. "I was thinking we could do a neutral color scheme," Ashley said, scrolling through her phone for inspiration. "Maybe a light gray or beige, and then add some pops of blue and green." Alev nodded, his eyes scanning the images on her phone. "I like that. And what about names? Have you been thinking about any?" Ashley smiled, her mind racing with possibilities. "I've been thinking about a few. What about Atticus or Jasper? Or maybe something a bit more unique, like Kai or Sage?" Alev chuckled. "I like those. But I was thinking maybe something a bit more classic, like Alexander or Benjamin." Ashley playfully rolled her eyes. "You're such a traditionalist." Alev grinned. "Hey, I just like timeless names. But we can compromise. What if we combine our ideas?" As they brainstormed, their list of potential names grew longer, and Ashley couldn't help but feel excited about the future. They were creating a new life, and a new chapter in their story was unfolding. As the days went by, Ashley and Alev worked tirelessly to prepare the nursery. They assembled the crib, changed the light fixtures, and painted the walls a soothing gray. Emma's room, once a sanctuary of memories, was now a space for their little boy to grow and thrive. One evening, as they sat in the nursery, surrounded by boxes and half-finished projects, Alev turned to Ashley and said, "You know, I think Emma would want us to be happy. She'd want us to love and cherish this little one, just as much as we loved her." Ashley's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Alev. "I think you're right," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I know that with this baby, we'll always be able to keep Emma's memory alive, while also embracing the new life we're creating." As they hugged, Ashley felt a sense of peace wash over her. They were moving forward, and they were doing it together. The nursery was coming along beautifully, and their little boy was going to have a wonderful space to call his own.