Her body had changed, had Dylan paid attention, he would have recognized the more pronounced curves on her body as a sign of her pregnancy. The ever so slight bulge of her tummy still told of the little humans that had been resident inside her.

She traces the stretch marks on her belly, gathers the extra flab of skin into her hands and smiles. She loves her body for having accommodated the changes. She has newfound respect for it, she reveres it now, a temple.

After her bath, Rudo serves her maguru and sadza, one of her favourite dishes. She appreciated how thoughtful Rudo was. It is a little after 3 in the afternoon, the twins, having bathed and fed, are sleeping. Her mother has left the house to get something from the supermarket a street away. Tanya finds her Bible and started reading through Romans 8.

Tadiwa wakes up some minutes later, he jumps in joy when he sees his mother. He is a ball of energy, and he soon loses interest in conversation with his mother and opts to play with his collection of miniature luxury cars. Kupa gets back from school and her presence brings an unsure atmosphere in the house.

Both Tanya and Kupa are not sure how much they should talk about the babies. Tanya, scared that Kupa would think she loves them too much, Kupa hesitant Tanya would let slip she loves the babies more.

‘They look so much like daddy,’ Kupa whispers as they look down into the crib, where the babies are sleeping.

‘So annoying, they are already choosing sides’, Tanya rolls her eyes and they both laugh, softly. They both stand there, marvelling at how easy it is to love them. The closeness that was beginning to grow between them seemed to have been lost during the days Tanya was in hospital.

Nyasha stirs and starts crying, Kupa instantly reaches for him, cradling him in her arms and cooing him back to sleep.

‘I think Nyasha is the problematic one, kachanetsa.’ Tanya says.

‘Haaa mhama, leave him. He is tired of sleeping. Can I take him outside for some little sun?’ She asks , eyes wide with excitement.

‘Sure, just stay on the veranda and don’t stay out too long. Do you have something interesting to read?’

‘Yea, there’s a book I just finished, it’s on my dresser.’

Tanya goes to get the book in Kupa’s room before settling down to read in her bedroom. She is 20 pages in, before she hears a raised voice outside.

‘Do you want to kill the baby? Huh? Give him to me. Where is his mother?!’

Tanya almost runs to the veranda to see her mother forcefully taking Nyasha from Kupakwashe.

‘Tanyaradzwa you should not just give small babies to everyone! What kind of a mother are you?’

She looks at her with disgust before walking past. Kupakwashe doesn’t move, her lips quiver. Tanya is unsure of what to do.