"A New Chapter Unfolds"

Ashley sat in the waiting room, fidgeting with her hands as she stared at the clock on the wall. She was 12 weeks pregnant now, and she couldn't believe how fast time had flown by. She and Gerald had announced the news to their parents a few weeks ago, and while Gerald's parents had taken it well, Ashley's had been less than thrilled. Her mother had been worried about how Gerald's behavior would affect the baby, and her father had been concerned about the financial implications of having a child. Ashley had tried to reassure them that she and Gerald were committed to making this work, but she could tell that they were still skeptical. She had decided to go ahead with the scan anyway, wanting to see her baby for herself and get a better understanding of how everything was progressing. As she waited, Ashley couldn't help but think about Gerald. They had barely spoken since his outburst a few weeks ago, and Ashley was starting to worry that things might not work out between them after all. She had tried to reach out to him, to talk to him about his behavior and how it was affecting her, but he had been distant and unresponsive. The nurse called her name, and Ashley stood up, smoothing out her dress as she followed the nurse to the scan room. She lay down on the bed, feeling a bit anxious as the nurse applied the gel to her stomach and began to move the wand around. The room was quiet, except for the sound of the heartbeat on the monitor. Ashley's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at the screen, seeing her baby for the first time. It was tiny, but it was definitely a baby, with a strong heartbeat and a tiny little body. The nurse smiled at her. "Everything looks great," she said. "Your baby is measuring right on track, and the heartbeat is strong. You're 12 weeks pregnant, and everything is progressing normally." Ashley felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had been worried that something might be wrong, but it seemed that everything was okay. She looked at the screen again, feeling a sense of wonder and awe at the tiny little life growing inside her. As she left the scan room, Ashley felt a sense of determination wash over her. She was going to do everything she could to make sure that her baby had the best possible start in life, and that meant working on her relationship with Gerald. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was willing to try. As she walked out of the hospital, Ashley pulled out her phone and sent Gerald a text. "I had the scan today," she said. "Everything is great. The baby is healthy and strong. We need to talk." She hesitated for a moment before sending the text, wondering what Gerald's response would be. But she knew that she had to try, for the sake of their baby and for the sake of their relationship.