Gabriel and Celina talked for a few minutes. He asked if she had slept well, how she was feeling. Celina felt safe with him, even from a distance. There was something grounding about Gabriel, as if he were an anchor in the middle of her storm.After the call, Celina took another shower. That morning, she had a prenatal appointment. She chose a loose dress patterned with tiny daisies. The light fabric swayed with her every step like a soft dance. She pinned her hair up in a bun and left.At the clinic, the waiting room was crowded. She sat down and pulled out her phone to pass the time. She looked around at the other women. Two of them were with their partners. Couples exchanging caresses, soft laughter, hands resting over baby bumps, kisses on foreheads. It stirred something inside her more than she cared to admit.Her throat tightened. Her heart ached, and sadness threatened to rise, but she remembered her conversation with Gabriel the night before. His words had reached her in a pla

The birthday boy grinned.“Good luck, brother. But hey…” he tilted his chin toward the woman dancing beside Zoe, her back to them. “…it’s her friend I’ve got my eye on.”At that moment, Celina turned around, and Arthur instantly recognized her face. His entire body froze. The smile vanished, replaced by a sharp, intent look.“Celina…” he muttered, as if her name carried weight. “Interesting…”“You know her?” his friend asked, surprised by his sudden tone.Arthur’s gaze stayed fixed on the dance floor.“I do. She’s already taken.”“Taken? What do you mean? She’s here alone. I’m going to make my move tonight.”Arthur stayed silent for a few beats, then took a slow sip of his drink. His eyes never left Celina, but it wasn’t desire he felt—it was vigilance, concern, loyalty to his friend. He finally murmured:“Thor had better watch himself, because if he slips… he’ll lose that woman for good.”Without another word, Arthur stepped onto the dance floor. His eyes locked on Zoe. She was danci

When Zoe came out of the kitchen with the cake still warm, the smell filled the apartment. The frosting dripped down the sides, and the inside was soft, golden, perfect. Celina cut a small slice carefully and took a bite. It was like a hug in the form of food.“This is wonderful,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “And the best part… I’m not feeling sick.”Zoe sat beside her, beaming with pride.“Do you know why? Because tonight you’re light. Your mind is at peace. That changes everything. The babies are fine. They feel everything!”Around 10 p.m., Zoe stretched and said:“Tonight is about comfort and laziness. I’m ordering takeout you’re going to love. No healthy food tonight—just for once, we’re going full junk food.”Celina smiled and nodded. Forty minutes later, the two of them were sitting on the living room floor, the coffee table buried under wrappers, soda, juice, fries—and laughter.It was nearly midnight when Zoe decided to leave.“Stay here,” Celina suggested.“Not to

There were exactly ten minutes left before class ended when Zoe’s phone buzzed. She sneaked a glance at the screen and broke into a wide smile as she read Arthur’s message:“I’m already outside waiting for you.”That simple phrase was enough to set off a storm of butterflies in her stomach. She bit her lower lip, trying to suppress the goofy smile tugging at her lips, but it was useless.“Oooh, look at that lovestruck smile!” one of her classmates whispered.“Smells like romance in the air,” another chimed in with a knowing look.Zoe laughed, shaking her head.“You’re both ridiculous. We’re just getting to know each other.”“Uh-huh… and I’m Beyoncé,” one of them teased.Class ended. Zoe gathered her things, waved a quick goodbye to the girls, and walked toward the exit. The moment she stepped through the doors of the college, she spotted Arthur leaning against his car, arms crossed, wearing that smile that was already starting to unravel her defenses.“Hey, beautiful,” he said, leanin

The city was already swallowed by the early hours of dawn, wrapped in a dense, silent fog. Cars had grown scarce along the avenues, and the tall buildings seemed to be asleep, their windows dark. The yellowish glow of the streetlamps painted the street in a melancholy hue, and the sound of the engine shutting off was little more than a whisper against the heavy stillness of the night.Gabriel parked in front of Celina’s building around one in the morning and exhaled softly. He turned to her with that protective look he always wore when it came to her—the strong woman he had been watching rise again from her own ruins.“Seriously, it’s way too late…” he said in a low, steady voice. “I’m walking you upstairs, to your door, and then I’ll head back.”Celina gave him a tired but genuine smile. Her eyes were heavy, her makeup nearly gone, her hair slightly disheveled, and yet her beauty remained—intense, raw, unshakable.“Alright… thank you, Gabriel. You’re such a sweetheart.”He returned t