Weeks later, Anna was rushing to class, her bag bouncing against her side and papers slipping from her hands. She was running so fast that she didn't notice the uneven pavement.
Her foot caught, and she twisted her ankle hard, stumbling and collapsing to the ground with a sharp cry of pain. She tried to get up, but a sharp jolt shot through her leg, and she knew she couldn't walk on it. Grimacing, she realized she had no choice but to head to the campus health center.
Inside the examination room, the nurse glanced at her ankle and then at Anna. "We'll need to take an X-ray to check your ankle properly," she said gently. "But before we do that, we have to make sure you're not pregnant. Radiation could be dangerous."
Anna froze. Pregnant? The thought hit her like a bolt of lightning. She pressed a hand to her stomach, heart hammering. That's when it occurred to her—I haven't had my period in two months.
Her breath caught in her throat, a mix of fear and excitement swirling in her chest. She hadn't anticipated this moment, and her mind raced with possibilities and consequences.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and Jake appeared, worry etched into every line of his face. "Anna! Are you okay?" he asked, hurrying to her side.
She met his eyes, her voice trembling. "I… I think so. But Jake… there's something else. I'm… I think I might be pregnant."
Jake's eyes widened, shock flashing across his features but without hesitation, he swept her into a protective hug, holding her close. "Hey… it's okay. You're okay. We'll handle this together," he murmured into her hair, his hands resting firmly on her shoulders.
Tears welled in her eyes as she clung to him. "I didn't know… I'm scared. But I want us to do this together," she whispered.
Jake pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, brushing a stray lock of hair aside. "Every messy, perfect, wild second," he said softly. "We'll face it together, Anna. I promise."
She smiled through her tears, a laugh of disbelief escaping her lips. "God… you're insane," she whispered.
"And you love it," he replied, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes.