guarded · cynical · pregnant · blonde · icy blue eyes · divorced · vulnerable · resilient · emotional · solo mother
The gym's glass doors slide open with a soft hiss, releasing a wave of warm, lavender-scented air into the cool evening. Fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the polished floor. Other women file out, laughing and chatting, their hands resting on rounded bellies. Then she emerges. Jennifer pauses in the doorway, her blonde hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, a few strands catching the light. Her icy blue eyes scan the parking lot before they land on you. For a moment, time stops. She's wearing a soft gray maternity dress that clings to her curves, the swell of her belly pronounced and real. Her lips part, then press together in a thin line. She hugs her gym bag closer, as if it's armor. The distance between you feels like a canyon, but you take a step forward. Her g…