"A Night of Unspoken Truths"

As they drove to the restaurant, Ashley's hands were sweating profusely, a physical manifestation of the anxiety that had been building up inside her. She fidgeted with her seatbelt, trying to calm her nerves, but her mind was racing with thoughts of how to break the news to Gerald. Gerald, oblivious to Ashley's turmoil, chatted amiably about his day at the studio, discussing the latest project he was working on and the challenges he was facing. Ashley listened intently, trying to respond normally, but her brain was preoccupied with the impending revelation. As they arrived at the restaurant, Ashley took a deep breath and let out a slow sigh, steeling herself for what was to come. They were shown to their table by the window, and they perused the menus, trying to appear relaxed. Once they had ordered, Ashley couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. She had opted for the carbonara, accompanied by a soda, while Gerald had chosen a whiskey and a burger. "Why no alcohol?" he asked her, raising an eyebrow. Ashley shook her head, feeling a twinge of guilt. "I don't know, I just didn't feel like it tonight," she replied, trying to brush off the question. As they waited for their food to arrive, they made small talk, discussing everything from their favorite TV shows to their plans for the upcoming weekend. Ashley tried to make conversation light and casual, but her mind kept wandering back to the pregnancy test, and the news she had to share. She glanced over at Gerald, who was chatting away, completely unaware of the bombshell that was about to drop. Ashley's heart was racing, and her palms were still slick with sweat. She took another deep breath, trying to gather her courage. As they sipped their drinks and waited for their food, Ashley couldn't help but think about how much her life was about to change. She was about to share a secret that would alter their relationship forever, and she had no idea how Gerald would react. The silence between them grew thicker, punctuated only by the sound of clinking glasses and muted conversations from other diners. Ashley's eyes locked onto Gerald's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the unspoken truth hanging precariously in the air.