The evening had grown darker, and the city lights of Accra slowly began to glow outside the apartment windows.
Cars moved along the distant road like small rivers of light. Somewhere nearby, a generator hummed steadily, and the faint smell of grilled fish drifted through the evening air.
Inside the apartment, however, everything felt calm.
Peaceful.
Different.
Mansa leaned comfortably against the couch while John sat beside her, unusually quiet for once.
"You've been silent for five minutes," she said finally. "Should I be worried?"
John blinked.
"Five minutes?"
"Yes."
"That might be my personal record," he admitted.
Mansa smiled.
"What are you thinking about?"
John rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Many things," he said.
"Such as?"
He pointed toward her stomach gently.
"Such as the small human that is apparently moving into our lives."
Mansa laughed softly.
"The baby is not moving yet."
"Still," John replied, "I feel like we should start preparing."
"Preparing how?"
"For example," he said seriously, "we need to start saving money immediately."
"You already work in a bank," she reminded him.
"Yes," he said proudly. "Which is why I know children are very expensive."
"You sound like a financial advisor," Mansa teased.
"Maybe I should start charging consultation fees."
"To your own child?"
"Everyone must contribute," he said firmly.
Mansa shook her head.
"Poor baby."
John chuckled.
Then his expression softened again.
"Mansa," he said quietly.
"Hmm?"
"Do you remember the first time we talked about having children?"
She thought for a moment.
"At the beach," she said.
"Yes," he replied.
"You said you wanted a whole football team," she reminded him.
"I was young and optimistic," he said defensively.
"You were twenty-eight."
"Exactly," he said. "Very young."
They both laughed.
The laughter slowly faded into a comfortable silence.
Then John reached for her hand again.
"Whatever happens," he said gently, "we'll face it together."
Mansa nodded.
"Together."
Outside, the night sky stretched quietly over the city.
Inside, two people sat side by side, holding hands and imagining a future that had once felt impossible.
For the first time in five years, hope had returned fully to their home.
And though neither of them knew it yet, they were eagerly anticipating the arrival of the joy that was growing in the womb of Mansa. They had no time to think of the challenges and risks, all they could think of was joy and satisfaction.
For now, the night belonged to them.
The beginning of a new chapter in their lives had finally arrived.