A Bump in the Road

As Ashley settled into her favorite armchair, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. She was now 32 weeks pregnant, and apart from the occasional bout of back pain, everything had been smooth sailing. Avan was busy in the kitchen, making lunch for them, and she was enjoying the quiet moment to herself. But as she shifted her position, Ashley felt a sudden, sharp cramp in her abdomen. She winced, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tried to breathe through it. She had been experiencing some mild cramping over the past few weeks, but this one felt a bit stronger. She pushed herself up from the chair, telling herself she just needed to stretch. "Hey, Avan, can you pass me that water bottle?" she called out, trying to sound casual. Avan walked into the living room, a sandwich in hand, and handed her the water bottle. "Everything okay?" he asked, noticing the slight tension in her voice. Ashley smiled, trying to reassure him. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just a little cramp, that's all." Avan looked at her skeptically, but Ashley could tell he didn't want to pry. "Okay, well, if you're sure," he said, handing her the sandwich. "Do you want me to get you some ice or something?" Ashley shook her head, taking a sip of water. "No, I'm good. Let's just eat lunch, okay?" As they sat down to eat, Ashley couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. The cramp had been a bit more intense than usual, and she couldn't help but wonder if it was a sign of something more. But she pushed the thoughts aside, telling herself she was just being paranoid. After lunch, they decided to take a walk around the block, enjoying the warm sunshine and the fresh air. As they strolled, Ashley felt another cramp, this one a bit stronger than the first. She gritted her teeth, trying not to show Avan that she was getting worried. "Avan, can we go home?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant. Avan looked at her, concern etched on his face. "Is everything okay, Ash? You're not feeling well?" Ashley hesitated, not wanting to alarm him. "I'm fine, really. I just need to sit down for a bit, that's all." Avan nodded, his arm wrapping around her shoulders. "Let's go home, then. We can take it easy for the rest of the day." As they walked back to their car, Ashley couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease. She knew that at 32 weeks, she was still a few weeks away from her due date, but a part of her was starting to wonder if her body was trying to tell her something.