"Perhaps it takes courage to raise children." ― John Steinbeck
This is another hectic day in Tessa's life. Waking up to the noises of the twins, she rushes impatiently into their room adjacent to hers. Not surprisingly, she found them tangled together, this time, fighting over a book.
"Give it back! "Tessa's youngest screeches. "You're an ape-like monkey who can't read, so you won't have any use of it."
"Yeah? I'm surprised, because I didn't think you understand an opinion of others since you're so selfish," William rebutted.
Tessa rushes again, this time to separate the ever-fighting twins. They were still twitching and struggling in her arms. At three-years-old, they are stronger than normal Shadowhunter children, faster and more intelligent in every sense, let alone normal human children.
"You're more selfish than I am!" "Ape-like and monkey are redundant!"
"Enough! And don't make me repeat myself" Tessa bellowed. To think of it, Tessa has not been her gentle and lovely self for a long time. Yet that moment of hesitation has allowed Harriet to shrug free of her mother's hold, and shout at her brother, "I hate you!"
Heartbreakingly shocked, Tessa could only utter, "How could you speak to your brother in that manner?" She quickly mustered up the will, settled William down to breakfast, before returning to her daughter, still trying to think of ways to educate and punish her.
Opening the door, Harriet spring into her arms, blurting out, "Sorry, mummy. I was wrong. I shouldn't have spoken to my brother in such manner-less way. Blood is, after all, thicker than water. Sorry." At times like these, Tessa is reminded that her children can be more mature than ordinary human children.
Feeding the twins, teaching the twins music and poetry, cleaning the twins, and playing with the twins, Tessa's day passed away in this strict routine.
Returning her tired body into her room after settling the twins for bed, she changes into her loose nightgown. Closely examining her body, it seems pregnancy has only left her hands alone; still smooth to touch, almost beautiful under the moonlight. She applies lotion to her aching body, while her mind drifts away. To Jem, her departed betrothed. Thinking of him always gave her tightness in her throat. He was taken too soon. She wonders about Will, her first love, and her lost youth. After returning to them a month ago, he has been away for most days, most possibly on his Shadowhunter duties. He had seemed cold to her, only warming up for the children. His face has grown tough and unforgiving after spending the three year in the darkest corners of the underworld, hunting demons. Despite that, she still finds a bit of youthful lovesickness thinking about his face, his hands, most gentle to touch.
Charlotte has used her connection as the Consul to get her family their little institute to reside in. They have moved in a few months ago. Though she appreciates this gesture, Tessa finds this institute too quiet, too isolated, that when she is away from her twins, she finds her mind wandering most of the time.
Collecting her thoughts, she prepares herself into bed. She closes the curtain, keeping out the moonlight that brings only nostalgia.
She hears a knock on her door.
"Hello, Tessa."
