Pearl pov
The room was quiet now. The laughter of the villagers, the clatter of bowls, even Cecil’s steady footsteps had faded into silence, leaving only the soft crackle of the oil lamp beside me.
I sat on the bed, my hands never leaving my stomach. My fingers stroked the thin layer of fabric between me and the four little lives growing inside. My heart still hadn’t caught up to the truth.
“Do you hear me, little ones?” My voice trembled, but a smile curved my lips. “It’s your mama… your mama who loves you so much already.”
I hummed softly, an old lullaby my own mother used to sing to me. The melody floated gently in the air, fragile but full of love, and as I sang, I felt calmer, anchored in a way I hadn’t been for weeks.
“I want to hold you,” I whispered, pressing my palm flat as t
