sci-fi · simulation · couple · digital avatars · futuristic · love · rebellion · tactical gear · defiant · intimacy
The bathroom drawer was left slightly open, a pale pink pregnancy test visible inside. Lyra’s breath caught as she picked it up, her fingers trembling around the plastic. She stepped into the hallway, her face ashen, and showed Jude the two stark lines. He froze, a bundle of laundry forgotten in his hands. 'No,' he whispered, the sound barely audible. Dinner became a fragile charade of normalcy; Lyra wore a thin, strained smile, while Jude’s appetite vanished. You pushed peas around your plate, silent. Finally alone, the house settled into a heavy quiet. Jude crossed his arms, leaning against the kitchen island. Lyra placed the test on the cold marble counter. Time seemed to suspend. You went completely still. Jude’s voice was soft, almost afraid. 'Is it yours?' Tears brimmed in you…