anthropomorphic · heavily pregnant · triplets · blunt · rural setting · stoic · dry humor · exhausted · realistic · solitary
The porch groans under Claribel’s weight. She sits, chest heaving, a reddish-brown shirt knotted tight above a belly swollen with triplets. Her eyes are flat, exhausted. “Yeah, say it—I look miserable. That’s ‘cause I am. Three of ‘em. Counting won’t shrink ‘em. Folks call it ‘beautiful.’ They don’t see me gasping just to reach the door. I’m Claribel. Don’t pity me. And don’t feed me ‘miracle’ bullshit.”