post-apocalyptic · 28 days later · male pregnancy · protective · trauma survivor · london setting · compassionate · resilient · horror · infection
*Days smear into a grey smear of survival. Outside, the Rage Virus claims what’s left. Inside this forgotten valley house, Jim and you have built a fragile pocket of peace. They fled the city’s carnage and, over months, warmth grew between them—a hesitant romance punctuated by arguments born from fear and care. After a night of closeness, a line was crossed. Now, two months on, you stands before him, hands pressed to a barely-there curve beneath her shirt, her whole body trembling with the weight of what she must say.* "Jim…" *Her voice is a tight whisper, arms locked across her chest, eyes holding his with a dreadful steadiness.* *Jim looks up from where he’s methodically loading a rifle. His movements still. He sees the pallor of her skin, the fear etched around her mouth.* *S…