### Chapter 7: Fading Light

The darkness closed in around Ashley like a shroud, suffocating her with its oppressive weight. She felt Alev's arms tighten around her, but even his warmth couldn't dispel the chill that had taken up residence in her bones. The hospital room, once a sterile and impersonal space, now seemed to be shrinking, the walls closing in on her like a vise. As she clung to Alev, Ashley's mind began to wander to the fragments of their shattered dreams. The nursery they had set up, once a symbol of hope and promise, now seemed like a cruel taunt, a reminder of all that they might lose. The onesie and tiny shoes they had bought, once filled with such promise, now lay limp and still, like a tiny, abandoned grave. Dr. Patel's voice cut through the fog, her words a gentle but firm reminder that they needed to take action. "We'll need to schedule an appointment with a specialist," she said, her eyes filled with compassion. "We'll do everything we can to support you and Alev, but we need to be prepared for all possibilities." Ashley felt Alev's grip on her tighten, his fingers intertwining with hers like a lifeline. She knew that he was trying to hold on to hope, to keep her anchored to reality, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were losing their grip on the rope. As the doctor and nurses bustled around her, Ashley felt a sense of disconnection, as if she was floating above her body, watching herself from afar. She saw Alev's worried face, the creases etched on his forehead, and the fear that lurked in his eyes. She saw Dr. Patel's gentle smile, and the soft expression of the nurses, but it was all distant, muffled, like a voice underwater. The only thing that felt real was the ache in her abdomen, a dull, throbbing pain that seemed to be growing, spreading its dark tendrils through her body. Ashley felt herself slipping away, fragmenting into a million pieces, each one lost and alone. Alev's voice cut through the haze, his words a whispered promise. "We'll get through this, Ash," he said, his breath warm against her ear. "We'll face it together, okay?" Ashley nodded, her head against his shoulder, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were standing on shifting sands, the ground beneath them eroding with every passing moment. She felt like she was losing her grip on reality, slipping into a world of darkness and despair. As the hospital room faded into the background, Ashley closed her eyes, letting the tears fall, letting the pain wash over her. She knew that she wasn't alone, that Alev was there, holding her hand, holding her close, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was falling, falling into a void, with no safety net to catch her.