Chapter1- The Night Everything Changed.
Amara's hands trembled as she held the tiny strip between her fingers. Two lines. Two perfect, unyielding lines.
Her heart raced, a mixture of fear, hope, and disbelief swirling inside her. She had always imagined this moment differently perhaps with laughter, a gentle hug, and his reassuring words. Instead, she stood alone in the bathroom, staring at the proof that her life would never be the same again.
She clutched the test to her chest as footsteps echoed outside. "Ethan…" she whispered, voice barely audible.
When he finally came through the door, the warmth in his smile froze the moment he saw the test in her hands. His eyes widened, and for a heartbeat, the world around them vanished.
"Amara… what is this?" His voice was calm, almost too calm, like the surface of a stormy sea.
She swallowed hard. "I… I'm pregnant, Ethan."
The air between them thickened, charged with words neither dared to speak. She expected joy, maybe even fear, but instead, there was silence. A silence that stretched too long, growing heavier with every passing second.
"I…" he started, then faltered. His hands, once steady and confident, twitched at his sides. "I can't…"
Before she could ask him to finish, his phone buzzed loudly. He glanced at it, eyes flickering with panic. Without another word, he bent to grab his coat and left.
Amara's knees gave way. "Ethan! Wait!" But the only answer was the soft click of the door closing behind him.
Her world had shifted in a single night. The man she loved had left her standing alone with a life that was theirs together now hers alone to face.
Tears fell freely, but deep inside, Amara made a vow. I will raise this child. I will survive. And I will never let anyone take my life away from me not even him.