Mommy, Deadly

An office horror exploring the trope of "pregnant and in peril," which annoys me very much as femme-bodied agender person. The trope appears as such: It’s the end of the world and you’re pregnant. The story doesn’t seem to care as much though. The pregnancy is only relevant as the danger around the characters dictates or until the baby has to come. Or if there’s a reason all the hospitals need to be shut down (like during a zombie outbreak). It drives up the tension. It makes the villain extra villainous if they attack the pregnant person. It’s got little to do with the parent and their child. In fact, it might just serve to reinforce the stereotypes of feminine fragility and women needing unwarranted protection.

This piece initially appeared in Best Served Cold Zine Volume 1: Criminally Gay.  You can get it here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1562338707/best-served-cold-vol-1

The cover is by Miloh E. Gorgevska.

This short story explores the experience of a non-binary person throughout their pregnancy. The birth is not shown, but the bodily changes throughout are. Please note that there is also a depiction of immolation.