JULIA POV

The clock ticks too loudly in the silence.

Each second feels like a countdown to something I don’t want to face.

I sit on the bathtub's edge, hands trembling slightly as I stare at the white stick resting on the counter.

It’s too early for results, but my chest feels like it’s closing in on itself. My pulse won’t slow down. I’ve faced danger, chaos, even heartbreak, but this? This feels different.

Because if it’s positive, I’ll have to confront ...