Mira's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected the baby to kick so suddenly. Of course, she had always felt the baby move before, those gentle shifts and flutters, but this was the first real, strong kick. She gasped, her hand instinctively flying to her belly. Did this mean the baby had heard her words? The thought warmed her heart, bringing a small, tentative smile to her lips.
For the first time in a while, she allowed herself to feel a glimmer of hope. The baby was really listening to her all this while, and so was this moment. It felt like a sign—a sign that she wasn't alone after all.
As if on cue, her phone buzzed in her hand, and without thinking, she answered.
"Mira…hello, is this my wife?" Zamian's deep, familiar voice came through the phone, soft but tinged with something she couldn't quite place—concern.