Aria POV
Months passed quietly.
Life settled into a rhythm I never imagined for myself.
Every morning, I opened Margaret's fabric store.
Every afternoon, I helped customers choose fabrics, lace, and buttons.
Every evening, I returned to my tiny apartment, where my mother's old sewing machine waited faithfully by the window.
And every night...
I talked to my baby.
"You've been very quiet today," I said as I rubbed my growing belly.
Almost on cue, a tiny kick answered me.
I laughed.
"So, you're listening."
The little kicks had become my favorite part of the day.
They reminded me that no matter how lonely I felt, I was never truly alone.
---
"You need to slow down."
Margaret's voice came from behind me as I reached for a roll of fabric on the top shelf.
"I can manage."
She s
