May arrived, gifting them a precious study leave. For Kian and Ariana, it was a rare chance to step away from campus and anchor themselves in the lives they were working so hard to support.
Kian's days were spent in the small wooden house, which was now filled with the soft sounds of infancy. He learned the rhythm of feedings and diaper changes, often cradling one sister while Jessica tended to the other. He'd sit for hours, a textbook open on his lap, with a sleeping Kiara or Kaira curled on his chest, her tiny breaths a quiet metric against his studying. It was exhausting, but in the peaceful moments, he felt a profound sense of purpose, a connection to a family he never knew he would have. 🤱
Ariana traveled to her aunt's home, the familiar streets a comfort. She helped with the cooking and spent afternoons quizzing her cousin on his schoolwork, her aunt watching them with a grateful smile. In the evenings, she would study at the kitchen table, the sounds of a family around her a soothing backdrop. It was a different kind of responsibility;not born of crisis, but of love and steady commitment.
They kept in touch with nightly calls, their conversations no longer about deadlines or threats, but about the small, simple details of family life. This month was more than a break from lectures; it was a reminder of the "why" behind all their struggles, a chance to nurture the very roots that gave their journey meaning. 🎗