High Hopes | Flight of the Dragon Festival
The truth was, Liz had been feeling like shit for the last few weeks. However, the festival was something Liz had been looking forward to since the year before. So she powered through it, enjoying the music and booths with her husband. Liz could put aside whatever was bothering her so that she could enjoy Alton’s company at a beautiful event. When it finally came time to wind down that night, Liz finally let the outside world start to pick at her previously neatly tucked in edges.
She sat alone outside of their tent and pulled out her phone, only now noticing the date. It was the twentieth. She was late. For fifteen years, Liz’s cycle had been on a set schedule. She would always start her period on the twelfth of each month. Liz unlocked her phone, anxiety immediately devouring every single inch of her body. She went onto Google and tried to search why her period might’ve been late, pregnancy such an abstract concept that it wasn’t even the first thing she thought of. In fact, it was the last thing she would even guess. But it was the only thing that made sense on Google. Late period? Check. Mood swings? Check. Everything else on the stupid list? Check.
But she couldn’t get her hopes up. Not too much. Liz had to act rationally, because she could hurt herself-- or worse, Alton, if she jumped into this too soon. Of course, it was impossible to act rationally when her and Alton had been trying to have a baby for years. With a sharp snap!, Liz had apparated just outside of a no-maj gas station that she’d seen on their way there. Within a couple minutes, she was inside. Another minute and she’d purchased a test. Liz couldn’t even consider that as an option without some sort of confirmation. A wave, a door chime, and a short walk later, Liz was a safe distance for apparation. And then she was back in front of the tent where Alton was hopefully asleep, the box secure in her purse.
Elizabeth snuck into their tent and into the bathroom, careful not to make too much noise. She quickly skimmed over the directions on the box, absolutely not wanting to fuck this up. It was self explanatory-- pee on the stick, wait two minutes, then she’ll know if she’s finally pregnant. Just...fuck. Her hands were shaking. Liz wanted Alton there, she didn’t want to do this alone. But she also didn’t want to tell him until she knew. Which is why she had to do this, because she could tell him.
She did it. And now all she had to do was wait, even though she’d never really been good at waiting. Liz set a timer on her phone before setting it on the counter. While she was in here, she might as well get something done. Careful not to splash water on the pregnancy test, she washed her hands. She filed her nails, she picked at split ends, and she even flossed. For the second time that night. And then finally, after what seemed like hours, her phone beeped. It had been two minutes.
She peeked at the test, her heart pounding in her chest. But then it all came to a screeching halt when she saw the results. Liz clamped a hand over her mouth when the small scream managed to slip away. “Oh my god.” With shaky hands, Liz pushed the bathroom door open. She felt like she was floating as she damn near bolted to the bed, launching herself onto the mattress. Alton was reading peacefully before she so rudely interrupted. “Alton.” Liz snatched his book away, setting it down on the bedside table. “Alton.” She already had his attention. She had it from the moment she walked through the bedroom door. But Liz was so....just...She was still shaking with joy. And she had to tell him.
