Heartbeats and Algorithms

Chapter 23: Unexpected Changes

**Jasmine**

At first, it was just a small thing—an occasional wave of nausea, a slight dizziness here and there. I brushed it off, thinking it was nothing more than stress from work, maybe even something I ate. But over the course of a week, the feeling didn't fade; it lingered, becoming more persistent. I couldn't quite pinpoint what was wrong, but something was off.

I was sitting at my desk one afternoon, staring at lines of code that had stopped making sense when the queasiness hit again, stronger this time. My stomach churned, and I had to fight the urge to close my eyes and rest my head on the desk. I quickly excused myself to the bathroom, hoping that a glass of water or a quick breath would settle my stomach.

But even as I stared at myself in the mirror, holding onto the sink for balance, I felt an unfamiliar exhaustion weighing me down. It wasn't just physical fatigue from work; it was deeper, like my body was working overtime for something I couldn't explain. My face looked pale, my eyes a little too bright. The reflection staring back at me didn't feel like the same energetic woman I had been just a few weeks ago.

That night, Xavier and I had plans to grab dinner, but when he arrived at my apartment, he immediately noticed something was wrong.

"Jas, you okay?" he asked, his voice full of concern as he walked in. "You look... pale."

I forced a smile, trying to push the weird feeling away. "I'm fine, just a little tired," I said, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

But Xavier wasn't convinced. "You sure? You don't look fine. Do you need to rest tonight?"

I hesitated. I hated worrying him, especially over something I couldn't even explain. "I don't know, maybe. I've just been feeling off lately, but it's probably nothing."

He narrowed his eyes, clearly not buying my reassurances, but he didn't press. Instead, he led me to the couch, his hand at the small of my back, guiding me gently.

"You know you can tell me if something's wrong, right?" he asked softly. "We don't have to go out tonight if you're not feeling it."

"I'll be fine," I said, though part of me wasn't sure. My head was spinning, my stomach still unsettled, and all I could think about was getting some rest.

---

The next few days were a blur of exhaustion. I started waking up feeling nauseous in the mornings, struggling to make it through my usual routine without feeling like I was going to pass out. Even simple tasks—making coffee, answering emails—felt like I was moving through molasses.

One morning, after I barely managed to keep my breakfast down, I decided to make an appointment with my doctor. I didn't want to panic or overreact, but something told me I needed to at least get checked out. I couldn't keep pretending that it was just work stress or a temporary bug.

At the clinic, I sat in the waiting room, my nerves tingling. The doctor asked me a few questions about my symptoms, and after a quick examination, she suggested a blood test. "It could be a number of things," she said with a reassuring smile. "But let's rule out any serious causes first."

I tried to remain calm, but there was a tight knot in my stomach as the technician took the blood sample. As I left the clinic, the air felt heavy around me, the city bustling as usual, but my mind was elsewhere. Something in the pit of my stomach told me that my life was about to change, but I had no idea how.

---

The test results came back a few days later. I was at work, just starting a new sprint, when I saw the notification from the doctor's office pop up on my phone. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt my stomach tighten. I'd been trying not to think too much about it, but now, there it was, staring me in the face.

I excused myself from my desk, stepping into the break room for some privacy. My hands shook as I dialed the number on my phone, trying to calm my breath.

"Hello, is this Jasmine Jones?" the nurse on the other end asked.

"Yes, this is she," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm calling about my test results."

The nurse's voice was calm and professional. "Well, Jasmine, your results have come back, and we do see some early signs of pregnancy. It's still very early, but based on your symptoms, it's a possibility."

The words hit me like a ton of bricks. Pregnancy. I couldn't even form a coherent response at first. My mind was racing as I processed the information, trying to make sense of it all. I wasn't prepared for this, not now, not in the middle of everything.

I thanked the nurse, hanging up quickly, my thoughts swirling in a thousand directions. Pregnant? I didn't even know what to think. I'd been so focused on my career, on trying to prove myself at work, that I hadn't even considered the possibility of starting a family.

Xavier. The thought of telling him made my heart race. We had been together for months now, but this—this was a huge step, one I hadn't even prepared for.

I sat there, trying to process everything, when my phone buzzed again. It was a text from Xavier:

**"Hey, how's your day going? I miss you."**

I stared at the message, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. How could I tell him? How could I even begin to explain what was happening inside me?

---

When Xavier arrived later that evening, I was sitting on the couch, my mind a million miles away. He greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, but I could tell something was wrong. He must have sensed the shift in my energy.

"Jas?" His voice was gentle, concerned. "What's going on? You've been distant today."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Xavier, I need to tell you something. Something big."

He sat down next to me, taking my hand. "You're scaring me a little. What's going on?"

I exhaled slowly, the words feeling foreign in my mouth. "I went to the doctor today. I'm... I'm pregnant."

The silence that followed felt like an eternity. Xavier's eyes widened, and for a moment, I wasn't sure if he was going to say anything. But then, he leaned forward, his expression softening.

"Jas," he said quietly, his voice full of warmth and surprise, "I... I don't know what to say. But we'll figure this out. Together. Okay?"

Tears welled up in my eyes as I nodded, feeling an overwhelming mix of relief and fear. The future felt uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, I wasn't afraid. Because I wasn't facing it alone.

And whatever came next, I knew Xavier would be by my side.