Chapter 173

Aisha POV The twins had reshaped every rhythm of my life. Kaya’s small fists clenched whenever he slept on my chest, his tiny breaths tickling against my skin, while Noah’s restless little kicks always found a way to remind me he was already impatient with the world. My days blurred into feeding, soothing, checking every sound, and drifting half-awake in the rare quiet moments. I had thought myself prepared. I had studied medicine, trained to handle the fragile balance of life, but nothing had braced me for the way motherhood carved itself into me. My body still carried the soreness of birth, my mind carried the constant checklist of their needs, and my heart never rested. It was always tuned to them, always beating in rhythm with theirs. Simon called me radiant, but most nights I felt more like a lantern burning too close to its own wick. One evening, after settling Kaya back into his cradle, I leaned against the wall of our chamber, exhaustion pulling at every muscle. Simon sat nearb