“You’ll be okay TiTi, because you’re the prettiest in the village.”

At first, it seemed like a superficial thing, something to brush off with a smile. But as I grew older, I began to understand what he was saying, was that I was enough. I had something within me that made me worthy, that I could stand tall no matter what difficulty I faced. Those spoken words were embedded deep within me and became my shield against the harsh realities of life. They gave me the courage to face obstacles, to hold my head high when others tried to bring me low, to believe in myself even when the world seemed determined to make me doubt.

They were more than just a father’s proud boast but a lifeline, a reminder that I had a place in this world, that I had value. They were the foundation upon which I built my resilience, the quiet strength that allowed me to survive. Even when things got tough and seemed impossible, when disappointment and heartbreak threatened to crush me. I could always remember that, in his eyes, I was enough, and that gave me the strength to keep fighting.

"You look just like your mother."

Those who knew Paulette would say, whenever they saw me. She was the embodiment of elegance and grace. They would recount tales of her sharp chestnut eyes that could pierce through any pretense and yet soften with a smile that radiated warmth and kindness. We were both tall, slim, curvy, and busty. Was it what they meant? I knew nothing more beyond the stories told by strangers and the rumors that surfaced after Jonas’s passing that she had taken her own life. I only wished she had lived long enough for me to have known her.

My fingers trace the lines of my own face, comparing them to her old photographs that Jonas kept tucked away in his wallet. The arch of my brows, the curve of my lips, trying to find the similarities that others seemed to see so clearly. My smile, though warm, didn’t quite carry the same grace. I felt a mix of sadness and acceptance, realizing that no matter what I can never quite see the resemblance. Sometimes, I wonder if the woman they described was nothing more than a beautiful myth.

I learned long ago that you cannot truly long for something you never had. In the absence of a mother, I had been influenced by many women throughout my life. In many ways those women had influenced me, each leaving their mark in different ways. Some were fleeting presences, offering wisdom in passing, while others lingered longer, becoming steady fixtures in my life. But it wouldn't be until I was eighteen that I'd meet the one who would truly try to be a mother to me: Victoria. She would understand my emptiness because she had grown up with the same hollow space where a mother should have been.

In retrospect, Paulette's death was shrouded in a silence so deep it felt like a forbidden secret. Even Jonas, my father, could never bring himself to discuss it. I was too young then to press for details, and he believed it was unnecessary to burden me with them. He would simply assure me, his voice firm yet gentle, that Paulette had loved me beyond measure.

Holding that certainty in my heart, I walked through life with a newfound pride. I carried not just the echo of my mother's face, but the very essence of her spirit. Standing before the mirror, I finally saw it. I saw not just my own reflection, but a living legacy of strength. I saw the unbreakable thread of love connecting me to all the women. Paulette, Victoria, and others who had, in their own ways, woven the tapestry of my life, bringing me to this moment at the age of thirty.

I cannot reminisce on the years past simply because of all the hardship I had to endure. As a child, I was picked on a lot because of my hair that was long and often kept in the braids, or buns that were easiest to manage. At least, I thought that was the reason, until the moment my hair was wrapped in someone's fist, being pulled while they cursed me, completely unprovoked.

I remember one incident vividly. I was sitting in front of a classmate during a school dance. Jonas had asked our neighbor, Adeline, to fix my hair, so there was absolutely no reason for it to annoy anyone. Ellie and I were friends, I thought. But out of nowhere, her fingers were in my hair, pulling sharply, and she was calling on the others to join in. Ever since that day, making friends has not been easy. I have kept myself distant and alone for years.

I was teased just as much for my straight nose, bright eyes, and long lashes. Since I didn't look like the other neighborhood children, I became a target for kids and parents alike. My young life became unbearable, forcing Jonas to make a final decision: he pulled me out of school and arranged for Celia to be my teacher in her spare time. It was his way of protecting me from the constant, harsh treatment of the neighborhood kids.

My world didn't just feel empty after Jonas was gone; it felt hollowed out. His passing carved a deep silence within me, that my own loneliness became a physical presence. I made a choice: the only way to survive was to rely on no one but myself. I wore my solitude like a suit of armor, and I told myself, over and over, that there was a fierce, unbreakable strength in needing no one. People would sometimes say my courage was like a 'soaring kite.' I'd just nod, but inside I thought, A kite is held by a string. My string was cut, and I was just drifting.

My name is Saintilia but everyone calls me TiTi. It's a nick name that carried warmth and familiarity, the sound of a simpler time when life was predictable. But the woman trapped in this room feels a world away from the girl named Saintilia. My hips ache from the lack of movement, even though I am permitted to walk the five steps to the lounge chair or stand by the window. Those few steps are the rigid boundary of my universe.

The woman I am today was forged in the fire, shaped by countless battles I never asked to fight. The path to motherhood has been an arduous pilgrimage, paved with years of disappointment, deception, and a deep, resonant heartbreak. I learned long ago that to survive, I had to tuck the misery deep inside my consciousness, where it couldn't shatter my focus. Now, in this enforced stillness, enduring a new kind of confinement, I realize that old, hardened strength is the only thing keeping me sane.

I am Seven months pregnant. A complicated uncertain journey, has led me to this complete, suffocating stop. Yet with every flutter, every heartbeat, I've marveled at the miracle unfolding inside of me. The promise of a new beginning. This baby is the final destination. I will not lose sight of it now, not after everything I've survived to reach this moment.

***************

Sitting on the bench in front of my mirror. I took a moment to truly see myself, the small lines around my eyes, each one a memory. Some were from tears, others from lessons I'd never forget. Together, they were proof of my journey, the price of every hard-won piece of wisdom. And honestly? Looking at that woman, I felt nothing but readiness. My heart was full of a quiet, buzzing excitement for whatever was going to happen next.

I was captivated by the depth of my own eyes. In them, I could see it. A glimmer of vulnerability, right there tangled up with a newfound strength. It was proof I was more resilient than I'd ever given myself credit for. Growing up, people always told me how pretty I was. But as a kid, I never really knew what that meant. It was just a word people used. My fingers lifted to lightly brush a strand of my black hair, and the memory surfaced instantly: my father, his big hands fumbling, trying to braid my hair for school. The thought made me smile.

My life, like anyone's, has been a mix of challenges and simple joys. I've learned to embrace them both. They aren't just random events; they're the very threads that have woven the story of my life.

Looking intensely in the mirror, inspecting the silhouette of my face; I understood why having a face like mine was considered pretty. the ambitions and aspirations that once seemed so far away, and yet, here I was, having lived through so much. Life had taken me on unexpected detours, and I had learned to navigate through them with grace and determination.

As I stood there looking at my features, a storm of thoughts swirled in my mind and made me wonder what it would have been like to have Paulette around. And the feeling of having a mother growing up, would certainly have lessened my suffering during my younger years. At that moment, well on my way to become a mother myself, I really wished I knew more About her.

My Father Jonas used to always say that people were just jealous, because his baby girl was the prettiest in the entire village. Thinking back of what he said, perhaps there was some truth to his sentiment. And made me realize those words were embedded deep in me, And they had given me the confidence to stand back up every single time I was knocked down.

The late afternoon silence had grown oppressive, my thoughts turning heavy and despondent. A restless energy pulled me from the mirror to the seat by the window. And for no reason at all, my mind drifted to Rose. I've been thinking of her so much lately. It took me years to forgive her, but now I see my life could never have become what it is without her.

The gentle sound of the door opening broke my reverie. It was my husband. He walked toward me, his presence immediately filling the quiet room.

"Are you comfortable?" he asked.

I was settled in the chair, my seven-month belly a pronounced curve beneath my white shirt and shorts. Our eyes met, but I was too lost in my daze to return his smile.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft but insistent.

I tried to smile. "It's nothing. Really, I'm okay."

He closed the distance, his gaze holding mine. "You are the strongest person I know, which is how I know that 'nothing' is everything right now." He took my hand. "Don't worry. I promise you, we will find her."

My eyes had drifted back to the window, feigning interest in the world outside. The soft afternoon glow illuminated the garden, making the flowers blush in the light, each one a keeper of its own secrets. In that moment, the love I felt for him was a physical force, so vast it stole my breath. I marveled at my sheer luck, not just to be alive, but to be alive and known so completely by him.

I felt his movement behind me, his presence a familiar warmth as his arms encircled my swollen belly, his hands resting protectively over our child. Then, his lips found the sensitive skin at the nape of my neck, and a cascade of shivers raced down my spine. A low, wanting heat bloomed deep within me. It had been so long. His embrace was a sanctuary, but the desire it sparked was a dangerous, thrilling current. I leaned back against him, a soft sigh escaping my lips, even as my mind issued a frantic warning. I wanted him with a desperate, aching urgency, but my body was not entirely my own. The safety of our baby anchored us, a sacred boundary we could not cross.

He always knew. It was a language that existed just between us, a silent current where my thoughts flowed directly into his understanding. I turned to face him, my smile an unspoken testament to a gratitude too vast for words.

I lifted my hand, my long fingers combing gently through his soft blonde hair, sweeping the stray strands from his eyes. As our eyes locked, a profound and absolute security settled over me. A feeling I had spent a lifetime searching for. His palms, soft yet sure, rose to cradle my face, and in that touch, I felt utterly wanted and cherished. When he whispered, "You are so beautiful," the words unraveled me. I rose onto my toes and closed the distance, my lips finding his in a kiss that felt less like an action and more like a completion.

I knew, with a certainty that lived deep in my bones, that this man loved me and would move heaven and earth for me. His response was immediate and passionate. His mouth welcomed mine, and the taste of him so familiar and intoxicating, filled my senses. We kissed with a desperate, tender intensity, a collision of souls where nothing else existed but the feel of his warm tongue against mine, the sound of our shared breath. I felt the hard tension coiling in his arms as they wrapped around me, a testament to the desire he was holding in check. We stood there, anchored only to each other, for a small, perfect eternity.

His arousal was unmistakable, a tense heat pressed against me. We kissed again, the hunger between us deepening into something more primal. Emboldened, I let my hand drift slowly downward, slipping inside the waistband of his pajama pants. I felt a shudder run through him, a tremor of pure, restrained desire. He wanted me desperately, yet his consideration for me and our baby held him in check. My fingers traveled further, cupping the warm, heavy weight of his sac. I gave a gentle, knowing squeeze.

A low, guttural groan escaped his throat. "Woman... what are you doing to me?" he managed, his voice ragged between feverish kisses.

It was not a question that required an answer; it was a surrender. I had him completely, exquisitely under my spell. My fingers continued their gentle exploration, and with every teasing stroke, his kisses grew more fervent, his control fraying at the edges. A thrill of power and excitement coursed through me, a sensation potent enough to be deeply satisfying on its own. Slowly, I withdrew my hand, only to let it slide upward, taking the rigid, hot length of him firmly in my grasp. With my other hand, I tugged deftly at the drawstring of his pants, loosening them until they pooled in a soft heap at his feet. Then I brought my palm to the nape of his neck, my touch softening to a tender caress against his skin.

We kept kissing until the world dissolved into a haze of sensation. I felt intoxicated, my hand working his rigid length, my own body thrumming with a desperate, unfulfilled ache. The very fact that I wanted him so badly and couldn't have him only fanned the flames of my own excitement, a delicious and torturous game. For a long while, my hand moved in a vigorous, knowing rhythm, coaxing him to an even harder, more urgent state. I could feel his climax building in the desperate intensity of his tongue tangling with mine, in the sharp, fractured catch of his breath. Then, a shudder wracked his entire frame, and a low, trembling groan escaped his lips as he reached his apex against my hand.

He slumped forward, resting his forehead on my shoulder, his breathing heavy and warm against my neck. "No fair," he murmured, his voice thick with spent pleasure.

A slow, triumphant smile touched my lips. "Did you enjoy that?" I whispered.

He tilted his head and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to the sensitive skin beneath my ear. "I love you," he breathed, the words a sacred vow against my skin before his lips found mine once more in a tender, sealing kiss.

Later that evening, after a dinner I barely tasted, I wove my fingers through his and proposed a shower. He let out a soft, knowing laugh. "An hour-long shower?" he mused, the corporate lawyer in him instantly calculating the lost time. "I have a merger agreement to review before the morning." It was the protest of a man for whom every minute was a billable unit, but it was a weak one. For all his success in the courtroom, he had never learned how to build a defense against me.

He followed me into the master bathroom, a sanctuary I had designed to be a retreat from the world. Smooth, veined marble and warm, polished gold accents created a sense of serene opulence. The soft, ambient lighting was my choice, it flattered the art on the walls and promised calm. It was a space that spoke of our shared life, a blend of his success and my eye for beauty.

With a turn of the polished gold knob, the rain showerhead erupted with a cascade of perfectly heated water. The air instantly bloomed with the delicate fragrance of lavender and jasmine from my favorite bath oils, a scent I had chosen for its power to soothe. Steam rose, pluming around us like a private cloud. As we stepped into the spacious enclosure, the body jets embedded in the tiled walls activated, delivering a targeted hydrotherapy that could soothe the most stubborn knots of corporate stress from our shoulders.

I closed my eyes, letting the warm cascade caress my skin, washing away the last vestiges of melancholy. The true surprise, the profound gift, was that Stephen never left. He spent the entire hour with me, understanding that this simple pleasure had become a rare luxury since my confinement. He had even commissioned a teak bench, wide and smoothly crafted, so I could sit safely beneath the water, a testament to his constant, quiet care. There, in our steamy sanctuary, we washed each other's bodies with a slow, reverent tenderness. Our hands, slick with soap, traced the familiar landscapes of each other's skin as we talked in hushed, hopeful tones about our baby, our future, and the life that was quietly taking shape between us.

Stephen POV

I walked into the room and saw my wife standing by the window. When she turned, our eyes met, and in that single, silent exchange, I felt a connection so profound it stole my breath. My heart hammered against my ribs with a terrifying, exhilarating certainty: this moment would be seared into me forever.

Thinking back, my heart clenches with the very same intensity I felt the first time I ever saw her. It was an undeniable pull, a recognition. In our embrace, the world simply fell away. Time stopped, leaving only the quiet truth of our souls intertwined. We found our universe in the simplest things, the brush of her hand, the private curve of her smile, a whispered compliment that carried the weight of my entire world.

The usual light in her eyes was gone, as if a shadow had fallen over her. Replaced by a pensive, distant look that made my chest tighten. I knew that look. Her thoughts were with Rose again. A pang of helpless guilt shot through me; I hated that I had no news to bring her, nothing to ease her mind except for the hope I clung to myself.

I crossed the room and moved behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. I buried my face in the cascade of her long black hair, breathing in her familiar scent. When my lips brushed the nape of her neck, I felt the almost imperceptible softening of her posture, a subtle tremor that was a secret signal between us. It was her body's silent answer to mine, and it made me smile against her skin. My hands splayed protectively over the swell of her belly. And then, as if our child understood the weight of this reconnection, there was a distinct, fluttering push against my palm. My breath hitched. A slow, wondrous smile spread across my face as the reality of it settled in.

"Did you feel that?" Saintilia whispered, her voice filled with awe and anticipation.

I could only nod, my voice lost to the swell of emotion tightening my throat. The sensation was beyond description, a profound and silent miracle unfolding beneath my hands. This was a first for me, an incredible threshold into a world I'd only ever heard about. I shifted my palms gently, hoping to capture every ripple and stir. And as if our child understood, more movements came, and a series of gentle rolls and nudges that played against my touch. Each one was a tiny message, a promise that our story was expanding, that a new chapter for our family was being written right here. A profound happiness settled in my chest. I was already desperate to meet the little one who was causing my wife so much discomfort. Other fathers had tried to explain this bond, but no story could have prepared me for the reality of feeling it myself.

When she turned to face me, a fragile smile graced her lips, but the anxiety still clouded her eyes. I cradled her face in my hands, and I felt a slight easing of the tension in her jaw. In that moment, the intensity of my own feelings struck me with near-overwhelming force. There was no room for doubt. I was utterly, completely in love with this woman, and I made a silent vow to never let a day pass without reminding her.

I could guess the worries circling in her mind, but right then, I wanted to command her entire focus. I needed her to think only of us. "You are so beautiful," I whispered, my thumb stroking her cheek. "Even more now, to me." I sought her gaze, willing her to believe the truth in my words. "This changes nothing. My love for you is forever."

Hearing those words must have pleased her, because she suddenly closed the distance and kissed me. The swell of her belly was a sweet, tangible reminder of why we had to be careful, but it was no barrier to the hunger of our lips. She had me utterly captivated when her fingers swept through my hair, pushing the strands from my forehead so her gaze could lock with mine. My eyes, I knew, were already laying my soul bare for her.

She had always possessed an uncanny ability to disarm me. Since the pregnancy, our sexual intimacy had become a complex dance of caution and longing. It had been a long while for both of us, and I was resolved to wait with infinite patience. But my wife, as always, could sense the desperate ache for her thrumming beneath my skin.

I felt her hand slip inside my pants, her touch a familiar shock as her fingers found their way and closed in a gentle, squeeze. My mind went blank, white-hot static flooding my senses. I was drowning, and the only thing I wanted was to feel every inch of her beneath my hands. In these moments since her bed rest began, she was the undisputed architect of our pleasure. I was merely a follower, surrendering completely to her command.

When her warm fingers wrapped around my length, the world dissolved into a blur. I was lost in the taste of her, in the deep, searching rhythm of our kiss. What she was doing was a form of sweet, exquisite madness. She worked my pants down, and the slow, deliberate stroke of her hand was guiding me to a place beyond language. I held her face tighter, my mouth refusing to relinquish hers, my last shred of control evaporating.

A dizzying wave of pleasure crashed over me, electrifying every nerve. My entire body went rigid as a torrent of heat surged through my veins, a breathtaking, exhilarating rush that crested into a final, shattering release. I trembled against her, shaken by the spasms of long-denied ecstasy. Even in the aftermath, I couldn't let go. I kept her locked in my embrace, our kisses softening but never ceasing, as I whispered a litany of devotion against her lips.

"Honey, you are amazing! Thank you."

****************

A profound sense of refreshment and relaxation settled deep within my muscles, a direct contrast to the frantic energy of before. An hour in the shower; something my old, efficiency-obsessed self would have scoffed at, had become a sanctuary. Saintilia had been right, as always. What began as a reluctant concession had ended with me lost in the steady rhythm of hot water dripping around us, the sound merging with the soft music that filled the steam. It was an indulgence I never knew I needed, a private oasis that left me already anticipating the next night.

Wrapped in comfortable robes, we moved to the cozy lounge area of our bedroom. The transition felt seamless, from one form of intimacy to another. The moon cast a warm glow through the windows, bathing the room in a soft light that mirrored the quiet peace between us. The air was now filled with the soothing, fragrant aroma of our favorite tea blend, setting the stage for a new, serene chapter to our evening.

Tea became more than just a beverage; it became a symbol of our love and the warmth we found in each other's arms. With every cup we shared, our love deepened, and we cherished these little moments that brought us closer together as husband and wife.

I couldn't stop looking at her. There she was, gorgeous and profoundly pregnant, the love of my life sitting across from me, carrying our child. A wave of overwhelming satisfaction washed over me, so potent it tightened my throat. I was desperate to finally meet our baby. As I poured the fragrant tea into our cups, our eyes met and held with each pour, speaking a silent language of understanding and affection that made words feel clumsy and unnecessary. The moments stretched, languid and sweet, as we basked in the simple, profound joy of being together.

Then she winked at me. Oh, my heart melted like a slow-burning candle. Could she see the anxious current running beneath my calm surface? Her gesture was a balm, soothing every hidden worry. In that instant, I felt her gaze pierce straight through to my soul, and for the first time in my adult life, I felt utterly naked, stripped bare of all my defenses despite being fully clothed.

Driven by a need for closeness, I placed my cup on the table and moved to her. I crawled the short distance, a supplicant to the miracle of her, and knelt gently before her chair. I leaned forward, resting my head lightly against the great swell of her belly, my ear pressed against the warm fabric of her robe, listening intently for any movement from the life within her.