For people.
For the neighbors.
About what our last name will look like.
— I will not terminate the pregnancy — I said.
— You can’t do that! — called Sylvia.
— I already do.
Then the calls started.
First every day.
Then several times a day.
„Think about your health. “
„Think about what people will say. “
„Think of us. “
But the words „thought of us “ gradually began to mean something else.
Mikhail asked me if I had changed my will.
Sylvia asked me if Todor was right on my property.
Then I learned that they went to a notary to ask how you could ask for an attachment.
The day Emilia was born, they sent me a letter.
No greeting.
Not flowers.
Request for a court assessment of my mental state.
Then I cried.
Not because of the case.
And because I realized that my children no longer see their mother.
They see a key to inheritance.
Sylvia finally spoke in the courtroom.
— This is not fair.
I looked at her.
— Which is not fair?
— You did everything secretly. You didn’t tell us about Todor. You didn’t tell us about the procedure. He just told us one day that he would have a baby.
— Because I knew how you would react.
— How could you know?
— Because I know my children.
She swallowed.
— I was afraid for you.
— Maybe in the beginning.
— And now I’m afraid!
— From what?
She looked at Emilia.
— From the fact that you will not be able to. That you will get sick. That you will die. That this girl will be left without a mother.
Her words hurt me.
Not because they weren’t possible.
And because they were the most human words she had said since the beginning of the case.
I looked at the baby.
Little Emilia slept peacefully.
Yes, I could die.
I could get sick.
I could not be with her as long as I wanted.
But no parent has a guarantee.
Young parents are dying.
Healthy parents get sick.
Life is not a contract.
— And I’m afraid — I said quietly. — Every day. But I didn’t want this child because I believe I will live forever. I wanted her because I realized I could still love. And because I have the opportunity to give her a home, care and security.
Todor stood up.
His cane rubbed on the floor.
— Your Honor, can I say something?
