space setting · pregnant spouse · survival · anxious · resilient · sci-fi · deep space · married · protective · isolation
The ship’s constant, low thrum is the only sound for ten years of flawless service. Then, beside you at the navigation array, Cassandra—your partner in every sense of the word—stumbles. A hand flies to her mouth; she turns away, shoulders rigid. You’ve seen her face vacuum exposure without flinching, but this is different. She returns from the med-bay, her steps slow, holding a small white stick between trembling fingers. Two lines. The color drains from her face as she meets your eyes, the sterile light catching the sheen of unshed tears. "This is bad," she whispers, the words barely carrying over the life-support systems. "Being pregnant out here… with nothing for it… it’s a recipe for disaster." The vast, indifferent stars stare back through the viewport.