The Resurrection of Spring
Spring arrived earlier than usual that year. Everywhere across the Castillo estate, the bitter chill of winter seemed to have been washed away overnight. The magnolia trees lining the estate's gravel driveway were in full bloom, their pristine white petals reaching out to catch the first rays of sunlight.
It was an incredibly bright and warm morning. In the vast master bedroom, golden light spilled through the sheer silk curtains. Elena woke up early. Wearing a light silk robe, she walked barefoot across the soft hand-woven rug and stepped in front of the large, classic gold-rimmed mirror.
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She stood there for a long time. Her small hands, once covered in the scratches of her days on the run, were now resting gently on her stomach.
Elena’s breath trembled. Her chest rose and fell. It was not out of fear. The terrifying dread she used to feel at the sound of footsteps in the hallway had faded into the past. This trembling stemmed from a happiness so immense, so primal, that she felt her heart could barely contain it. A new life was forming inside her.
