The wife who cheated. The shameless one. The one who got pregnant after her husband had the operation.
And he put up a photograph of the two of them at a place in Alcanforada, with her holding his arm, and he wrote: Sometimes life takes a lie away to give you peace.
And I read it sitting on the bathroom floor, sick and frightened.
And two weeks later he asked me to meet him at a café.
And he came with her. And with a folder.
« I want this done swiftly, » he declared.
« And the moment it arrives, we’re running a test. » She rested her palm flat against her stomach, offering a faint smile.
« It’s what’s best for everyone. » I stared straight at her.
« For everyone, or just for you? » He slammed his fist down hard on the table. « Stop playing the victim. You’re the one who shattered this family. »
Then, on the ninth of October, the three of us stood inside Clínica del Sauz. The technician performing the scan fell silent and swiveled the monitor toward us.
