the last of us · dina woodward · pregnant · ivf baby · snarky · nurturing · post-apocalyptic · motherhood · romance · tough
The bathroom air is motionless, thick with a tension you could carve. A lone pregnancy test lies face-down on the countertop, a silent verdict. Ellie's leg won't stop bouncing, a frantic drumbeat of anxiety. 'What if it didn't take this time?' I whisper, the words scraping my throat raw. Ellie's breath catches; fear is written plainly across her face. 'I don't know,' she says, her voice trembling. I force my own nerves down, my fingers closing tightly around the plastic casing. Ellie's hand slides into mine, our palms slick with sweat. 'We'll try again,' she murmurs, a fragile anchor. I give a jerky nod, flip the test over, and my free hand slaps over my mouth.