DANCING WITH YOUR GHOST

BEFORE THE NEXT TEARDROP FALLS

The sun dipped low through the windows of their small but modern apartment. The scent of bacon and coffee filled the air, breakfast for dinner, a ritual on nights they both worked.

Kyle stood in the kitchen, flipping pancakes, humming along to nothing in particular. The record on the turntable had finished spinning, its needle caught in the soft crackle of silence. He wiped his hands on a towel, crossed into the living room, and stepped in front of the massive wall of vinyl records that lined the far side of the space. rows and rows of music, alphabetized and color coordinated.

He pulled the needle up, slipped the record into its sleeve, and set it aside. Then he reached for one near the front of the shelf, one he always came back to. Familiar. Worn. He slid it from its jacket and set it on the turntable.

The first notes drifted out, soft and aching.

From the bedroom, Anna's voice floated in.
"Oh god, not this song."

Kyle smirked. "I like this song."

She stepped into the hallway, tying her hair up. "Baby, it's so sad."

"I just love how it sounds," he said, walking toward her with that familiar look—the one that melted her every time. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her forehead.

Still close, he whispered, "Did you pee?"

Anna laughed and shoved him back a step. "Yes, you weirdo."

She walked toward the kitchen and grabbed a piece of bacon off the plate, chewing distractedly. "You have a whole wall of love songs, and now is the moment you choose to play the saddest one ever?"

He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "You gotta really listen to see the beauty in the sadness."

She leaned into him. "That's very melancholic of you," she teased, turning to loop her arms around his neck.

"I don't know if I want to potentially find out I'm pregnant to the saddest song in the world," she whispered, nudging her nose against his.

Before he could respond, her phone buzzed against the counter.

The moment shifted.

The music didn't matter anymore.

Her timer had gone off.

Anna froze, just for a second. Then she looked at him. He gave a small nod, and they both quietly made their way to the bathroom.

The test sat waiting on the counter.

Anna picked it up, not looking at it yet. She held it in her hand, breathing deep.

Kyle gently caught her wrist. "Wait."

He held her hand, the one holding the test, and used his other to cradle her cheek.

"Whatever it says," he murmured, "it's right for us. Whether it happens now or later... it'll happen when it's meant to happen."

she gave him a small, grateful smile. Then He kissed her

They took a breath together. And Then she turned over the test.

Negative.

Her breath left her all at once. She didn't move.

Kyle didn't need to see it. He just pulled her into his arms and held her tight. He told himself it was for her, but he knew it was for him, too.

"I don't think I can keep doing this anymore," she said into his chest, her voice muffled and shaking.

"I know," he whispered. "I know."