Invisible String

7

I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway. “You’re unbelievable.”

But I let him tuck me in a little tighter, let him bring me toast in bed the next morning, let him hold me when I cried for no reason except that my heart was tired and my body ached.

The truth was—I’d never loved him more. Because through all of this, the heartbreak, the waiting, the pregnancy that felt like a miracle wrapped in anxiety—he never once let go. Never once made me feel like I had to go through it alone.

That was everything.

And I was slowly learning that maybe being strong didn’t mean pretending I wasn’t scared.

Maybe it just meant staying anyway. Holding on anyway. Loving anyway.

For her. For him. For me.

---

It was a Sunday afternoon, the kind that felt slow and cozy, even if my nerves were anything but. Travis had a game, so I stayed home—doctor’s orders. No travel, no stress. Honestly, it wasn’t like I wanted to go anyway. My body was tired. My mind even more so.

Kylie volunteered to come hang with me, which I was grateful for. She showed up with snacks, fuzzy socks, and an iced tea she claimed wasn’t caffeinated but I didn’t ask too many questions. I just needed someone here. Someone who wasn’t going to look at me like I was fragile—but also wouldn’t ignore it if something felt off.

We curled up on the couch, the game playing on the TV. Jason’s voice boomed through the speakers during a pre-game interview and Kylie rolled her eyes, “God, he loves hearing himself talk.”

I laughed and tucked the blanket closer around my legs. “He’s not wrong, though. Travis is gonna crush today.”

“Obviously,” she grinned, handing me a bowl of popcorn. “We only make champions in this family.”

It was easy, for a while. We joked. We critiqued the commentators. Kylie tried to explain some defensive strategy and I nodded like I understood even though I didn’t. Everything felt light.

Until it didn’t.

I shifted a little, just repositioning, when I felt the cramp.

Deep. Sharp. Low.

I flinched and dropped the remote.

“You okay?” Kylie asked immediately, eyes narrowing.

I nodded too quickly. “Yeah—yeah, just a cramp, I think. Maybe gas?”

Kylie didn’t look convinced. “That didn’t look like a gas face.”

I breathed out slowly, hoping it would pass. But it didn’t. Another cramp hit, stronger this time, and I sucked in a breath without meaning to. My hand instinctively went to my stomach.

Kylie sat up straight. “Taylor?”

My heart pounded as I tried to speak calmly. “It’s... starting to hurt. Like, not normal hurt.”

She didn’t panic, but she moved fast. “I’m calling your doctor.”

“No—wait,” I said, already leaning forward, trying to breathe through it. “It might stop. Sometimes it—”

But it didn’t.

This wasn’t the little twinges I’d been having. This was different.

This was new.

And not in a good way.
“Please, Kylie,” I whispered through gritted teeth, clutching my belly as another cramp pulsed through me. “Don’t call Travis. He has a game. He needs to focus.”