Those hours seemed like an eternity.
Finally, I heard the doctor’s voice.
‘One more push. You can do it.’
I gathered the last of my strength — and suddenly the room was filled with the most beautiful sound in the world: the cry of our baby.
‘A healthy boy,’ said the doctor, placing him on my chest.
So small, so warm.
I didn’t know it was possible to love so much.
Tears streamed down my cheeks without stopping.
David was crying too.
‘Thank you, Rachel. Thank you so much.’
The baby was soon taken away for examination.
I was transferred to a ward, and I felt my strength leaving my body.
David kissed me on the forehead.
‘I’ll be out for a bit. I’ll get your favourite drinks and something to eat. Do you want anything else?’
‘No, I’m fine. Thank you,’ I replied.
I wanted him to stay, but his concern warmed me.
‘Be careful.’
When he left, silence enveloped the room.
It was still dark outside.
The exhaustion after giving birth hit me all at once, and I fell asleep.
I woke up to sunlight.
It was already past eight o’clock.
David still hadn’t returned.
The empty chair by the bed made me anxious.
He hadn’t been gone this long for a normal shopping trip.
The shops must be closed, I tried to convince myself.
A nurse entered the room.
‘Good morning! Your baby is doing great. All his tests are fine. We’ll bring him to you soon.’
She smiled.
‘Is your husband back yet?’
‘Um… no. He went shopping,’ I said.
‘I see. Maybe something’s keeping him. Can you call him?’
‘Yes, I’ll try later,’ I replied, feeling a growing sense of unease.
David always carried his phone with him.
If something had happened, he would have let me know.
After the nurse left, I picked up the phone to call him, but stopped myself.
He was probably driving.
I didn’t want to distract him.
I decided to go to the bathroom.
I slowly got out of bed, my body aching, and walked down the quiet corridor.
Suddenly, I saw a man walking towards me.
My heart almost stopped.
It was Michael.
My ex-husband was walking straight towards me.
‘What?’ I blurted out.
He noticed me too and stopped, stunned.
‘Rachel,’ he said.
‘What are you doing here?’
We stood in the middle of the corridor, looking at each other.
Five years had passed.
Michael looked thin and tired.
‘Did you just give birth?’ he asked.
‘Congratulations.’
‘Thank you,’ I replied, my voice trembling.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘The president of one of our client companies is in hospital. I came to visit him.’
Michael looked away.
‘How are you?’
‘Fine,’ I replied curtly, and an awkward silence ensued.
Suddenly, the lift doors opened.
I looked over automatically.
It was David.
He was walking towards us with bags in his hands.
” David, you’re back,” I said with relief.
He smiled.
‘Sorry I’m late, but I bought all your favourite things.’
I took a step towards him, but heard Michael mutter something behind me.
Turning around, I saw that his gaze was fixed on David.
Suddenly, his face turned deathly pale.
He stumbled backwards, crashing into the wall.
‘You…’ he gasped in a trembling voice.
‘Why are you here?’
I didn’t understand.
‘Michael, what’s wrong? Do you know David?’
David approached him, calm but with a coldness in his eyes that I had never seen before.
‘Long time no see, Michael.’
Michael was trembling.
‘You… you’re with Rachel?’
‘Yes,’ David replied with a slight, frightening smile.
‘Rachel is my wife. Our son was just born. Aren’t you going to congratulate us?’
The blood drained from Michael’s face.
He stood silently, looking at David with obvious horror.
‘Do you know each other?’ I asked.
‘What’s going on?’
David smiled gently.
‘Once, a long time ago. But it doesn’t matter, Rachel. Don’t think about it.’
But Michael’s reaction was abnormal.
He looked at me pleadingly, but couldn’t say a word.
David put his hand on my shoulder.
‘Rachel, let’s go to the ward. You’re tired. Your ex-husband doesn’t matter.’
Suddenly, Michael ran off.
He turned and rushed down the corridor.
‘Michael, wait!’ I shouted, but he didn’t look back and disappeared around the corner.
‘What was that?’ I whispered.
‘Who knows?’ David replied.
‘Forget about him, Rachel. Right now, just think about yourself and the baby.’
He hugged me, and although his embrace was gentle, a chill spread through my body.
There was pure terror in Michael’s eyes.
Something was terribly wrong.
In the ward, David took out the groceries: orange juice, sandwiches, my favourite biscuits.
‘Thank you,’ I said.
‘You’re welcome,’ he smiled, but there was something different about that smile.
Maybe it was just my imagination?
While David was in the bathroom, I sat on the bed, my thoughts racing.
Why was Michael so scared?
Suddenly, my phone vibrated.