Just that suspended instant… where each one began to understand something different, but all at the same time.
Alejandro was the first to get up.
Not all at once.
Slowly.
As if measuring every movement so as not to break something that was already too tense.
His eyes didn’t turn to me first.
They went towards her.
-Mother…
The word fell heavily.
Not as a greeting.
As confirmation.
My mother-in-law did not respond.
His hands were still on her belly.
Instinctively.
Protecting.
Not a disease.
Not a pain.
Anything else.
Something that could no longer be hidden.
The doctor tried to intervene.
—I think this is a misunderstanding, if you want we can—
—No —said Alejandro.
Dry.
Without raising their voices.
But enough to stop everything.
He looked at me.
And in that look…
There was no surprise.
There was something worse.
Anticipation.
As if that moment hadn’t taken him by surprise.
As if I had arrived there… expecting something like that to happen.
My throat closed up.
“What are you doing here?” I managed to say.
But my voice didn’t sound like mine.
It sounded smaller.
More fragile.
Alejandro did not respond immediately.
He looked at the doctor.
