The excitement slowly settled.
The winter sun dipped lower.
Students continued passing through the courtyard.
The world moved normally.
Yet somehow everything felt different.
Alankrita rested both hands on her stomach.
The others watched quietly.
For months the baby had been a mystery.
A heartbeat.
An ultrasound.
A nickname.
Now he was something more.
A little boy.
Her son.
Their Baby Pumpkin.
Almost as if sensing the moment,
thump.
Everyone froze.
Another kick.
Then another.
Oliver's eyes widened.
"He's celebrating."
Chloe laughed.
"Definitely his mother's child."
Sam nodded.
"Already making dramatic entrances."
Mei Lin smiled softly.
"He knows he has people waiting for him."
Alankrita looked around the circle surrounding her.
Friends.
Former strangers.
Former gossipers.
Family she had chosen.
Family that had chosen her back.
Her hand remained over the place where her son had kicked.
"Hello, little one."
The smile on her face was brighter than the winter sunlight.
"Looks like everyone is excited to meet you."
And somewhere beneath layers of sweaters, beneath six months of impossible journeys, beneath fear and hope and courage,
the little boy kicked again.
As if answering:
"I'm excited too."