35. Fear

Adrian stood in front of the mirror, towel wrapped around his waist, droplets of water sliding down his pale skin. He was drying his hair after a long shower, feeling somewhat refreshed after everything they had been through in the past few days. The scent of soap lingered in the air, and for a brief moment, Adrian allowed himself to feel a semblance of peace.

As he looked at his reflection, his hand instinctively rested on his abdomen. A baby… my baby, he thought, marveling at the tiny life growing inside him. It still felt surreal, but each passing moment made it more real. The thought brought a small smile to his lips, though his heart was still heavy with the lingering shadows of fear.

A soft knock on the bathroom door broke him from his reverie.

"Adrian, everything okay?" Ethan's voice called from the other side.

Adrian smiled to himself. "Yes, I'm coming," he replied, quickly finishing up and slipping into some comfortable clothes.