Expectant

by Tessa Lynn, Tessa Bowman

Nat and Autumn Collier are finally ready for a family after 8 blissful years of marriage. Autumn is pregnant with their dream baby thanks to the miracle of IVF, but when her health takes a turn for the worse, Nat is forced to advocate for her ill wife and beat the clock that is Indiana’s 10-week abortion ban. It seems that no one is taking her concerns seriously, especially Autumn’s OB Dr. Colter, who suddenly seems like he might have something to do with the negative effects of Autumn’s pregnancy.

What to expect:
- Real-world horror
- Pregnancy horror
- Parasites
- Feminine rage
- LGBTQ+ rep
- Short story

53 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2025

About the author

Tessa lives with her wife, son, dog, and 3 cats in Northeastern Ohio. Much of her inspiration is drawn from personal experiences and a love of the horror genre. COVID allowed her to rediscover a love for reading and writing, and she's now made her childhood dream come true with her first published short story: Expectant.

Reviews

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expectant: waiting, hoping, longing.

This story follows a couple trying to conceive through IVF, but beneath that personal struggle is a layered piece of social commentary. It’s about homophobia, women’s right to choose, and the suffocating control men still hold over women’s bodies. It’s about women who perpetuate the problem, and what it means when every single day is a battle just to exist.

There’s a parasitic quality to it all, the way expectations, stigma, and systemic control burrow in, feeding off grief and hope alike. The narrative asks the hardest questions: when do we get relief? What needs, or doesn’t need, to happen for change to finally come?

Tessa Lynn delivers a story that’s as political as it is personal, raw in its honesty, and unsettling in its implications.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey all!! My first published short story is now available on Kobo and Kindle!!

[Maddi Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story packs an absolute punch! It’s gross, infuriating, and will make you never want to see a medical professional again. The way Autumn is treated by her doctor and the awful things she goes through during her pregnancy gave me the chills.

The ending was so “good for her” I cheered out loud.

I would suggest this to anyone looking for a horrific short story that will stick with you. 🪱

[Sarahhslittlelibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gripped me from the very beginning, with its prologue. I love the characters of Nat and Autumn; you can feel how much they care about each other, and the excitement about their bundle of joy makes you feel like your best friends just told you they were expecting. I was intrigued to see what Dr. Colter was up to. At first, his intentions seemed pure, but then the doubt sinks in when you hear his perspective and you realize how truly messed up he is. This story was disgusting, disturbing, heartbreaking, and had me in a chokehold in the best way possible.

[Lorrie Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Rosemary’s Baby in October and was left craving more horror that dovetails with that general theme. Along came Expectant. It was soooooo engrossing!

Autumn and her wife, Nat, have enjoyed a happy marriage filled with love, travel and fulfillment. Now, they are on the cusp of fulfilling their dream to have a child together. Autumn is newly pregnant and questioning whether her physical experience is normal. She and Nat realize their IVF doctor is not on their side. In fact, something about the IVF doctor seems just plain wrong...

If you liked Rosemary’s Baby’s exploration of gaslighting and having one’s symptoms and experience denied by the medical community, this short read might be a good companion read. More modern in scope, this story situates those themes within the context of a lesbian couple facing increasingly conservative laws and societal discrimination and oppression. I also enjoyed the spotlight given to female rage. The story feels immediate, important and relatable. It stuck with me all day after reading!

Check your triggers. There’s a smidge of body horror, as well as medical trauma & discussion of termination for unviable pregnancy. The writing goes deep into Autumn and Nat’s inner experience, feelings and psyche, leaving us with fully-realized characters. You will feel for these two women! Because they are so easy to empathize with, it really carries an emotional impact!

[Ryan Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are few stories of this length I would give more than 4 stars for the fact I usually find myself wanting more and not feeling like the story had enough time to develop - this does not apply in this case. Tessa has created such a brilliant story that fits perfectly into its length.

The idea that this story stems from the problems of the real world really hits home and manages to truly envelop the levels of hatred that bubbles up in the evil side of humanity and I fear Tessa has captured this perfectly!

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A harowing tale about medical gaslighting and feminine rage against a system that condemns women into life or death scenarios having to do with their bodily autonomy including those who desire motherhood.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent short story! It's full of dread and is a pregnancy nightmare. As someone who finds pregnancy to be a nightmare itself, I'm glad this is a short story because it really was terrifying!!

[Megan Magee]

Short, quick, and to the point! Expectant follows our young lesbian couple as they struggle to conceive. This one is tiny, mighty, and packed with rage, violence, and the perfect amount of justice. If you’re a “good for her” person but in a lowkey way, check it out!