Sofia was in her second semester when she began to feel a strange tightening in her stomach. At first, she thought it was only fatigue from her studies or hunger from skipping lunch, but when the pain came sharper and more often, Adam immediately insisted they go to the doctor.
The ride to the clinic was quiet. Adam held her hand tightly the entire way, his thumb tracing small circles on her palm, though she could feel the tension in his grip. When they arrived, he stayed beside her during every test and waited outside the ultrasound room, pacing the hallway with his jaw set tight and his phone untouched in his pocket.
After what felt like forever, the doctor called them in. Sofia was lying on the examination bed while Adam sat close, his fingers entwined with hers. The steady rhythm of the machine filled the room until finally, a soft heartbeat echoed through the speakers. The sound made Sofia's eyes water.
