The rest of Amina’s visit passed in a quieter rhythm than any of us had expected. After that morning conversation about the future, she seemed lighter in some moments and more thoughtful in others. She didn’t bring up the baby topic again for the next two days, and we didn’t push. Instead, we filled the time with ordinary things — walking to the creek, watching old movies, and sitting on the porch in the evenings while the lilacs bloomed around us.
On her last full day home, she asked if we could cook one of her mom’s recipes together. Elias pulled out the old handwritten cards without hesitation. We made her mom’s chicken and dumplings, the three of us moving around the kitchen in a way that felt both familiar and new. Amina was quiet while we worked, but it was a comfortable quiet.
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