**A Glimmer of Hope**

Two weeks had passed since Ashley's diagnosis, and she was now 26 weeks pregnant. She was still stuck in the hospital, but thankfully, she had no more bleeding. The days had blended together in a blur of bedrest, medication, and endless monitoring. Ashley had grown accustomed to the routine, but she couldn't help feeling restless and trapped. As she lay in bed, Ashley thought back to the scare she had faced two weeks ago. The placental abruption had been a wake-up call, and she was grateful that she had been able to get treatment quickly. But despite the initial shock, she was starting to feel a sense of hope. She had been stable for two weeks now, and the baby was growing strong. The doctor, Dr. Smith, walked into the room with a warm smile. "Ashley, how are you feeling today?" he asked, his eyes scanning her chart. Ashley shrugged. "I'm feeling okay, I guess. A little bored, but okay." Dr. Smith chuckled. "I can imagine. Bedrest can be tough, but it's necessary right now. Let's take a look at the baby and see how they're doing." Ashley nodded, and Dr. Smith began to examine her. He checked her blood pressure, looked at her chart, and then picked up the ultrasound wand. "Let's take a look at the baby," he said, applying a gel to her stomach. As the ultrasound images appeared on the screen, Ashley's eyes widened in wonder. The baby was moving and kicking, and she could see its tiny hands and feet. Dr. Smith pointed out different features, and Ashley felt a surge of love and connection to her child. "Everything looks good," Dr. Smith said, smiling. "The baby is growing at a healthy rate, and their heart rate is strong. I'm pleased to see that you're stable, Ashley. This is good news." Ashley felt a lump form in her throat as she looked at the ultrasound images. She was grateful that the baby was doing okay, but she couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that still lingered. When would she be able to go home? When would she be able to have a normal pregnancy? Dr. Smith seemed to sense her concerns. "We're making progress, Ashley. You're doing a great job of taking care of yourself and the baby. I'm hoping that we can start to talk about discharge soon. Maybe in a few more weeks, if everything continues to go smoothly." Ashley's heart skipped a beat at the possibility of going home. She had missed her own bed, her own clothes, and her own routine. She had missed being able to move around and feel like herself. As Dr. Smith left the room, Ashley felt a glimmer of hope that she hadn't felt in weeks. Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to look up. She closed her eyes, feeling the baby move inside her, and smiled. She was going to get through this, and she was going to have a healthy baby.