Running late for her abortion appointment, the woman realized she had left her documents in the car…

For example, when one of them is going to get bad news. Or when a caregiver will be in a bad mood. And can’t you just not say what you see.

I tried. But when I see something bad, I want to warn. And when I warn, they call me crazy.

It’s hard, Paula agreed. Your mom went through that too. Tell me more about her.

Paula told how Nina helped people with her gift. How she once warned the math teacher that she forgot to turn off the iron at home and thus prevented a fire. How she found the neighbors’ lost dog, sensing where it was hiding.

Mom was kind, Mike said. I feel it. Very kind.

And you look like her. They talked for almost an hour. Mike asked many questions about his mother, and Paula answered all, trying to convey the atmosphere of the time when she was friends with Nina.

Paula, the boy said finally, and what about your child? Did you keep him? Yes. Your note helped me make the right decision. So he will be born? He will be born.

In 7 months. And will you really want to adopt me? Very much. But it’s a complex process.

It will take time. How much time? Maybe six months. Maybe more.

Mike thought. I can wait that long. The main thing is there’s hope.

Paula stayed at the orphanage until evening. She met the caregivers, studied the children’s life, talked to the director about the possibility of regular visits. Valentina agreed, especially when she learned about the adoption plans.

If you’re serious, it will be good for the boy, she said. He has no one, and a child needs a family. At home, Paula made a plan for the coming months.

She needed to collect all documents for adoption, pass medical commissions, prepare the apartment for inspection by guardianship authorities. At the same time, be monitored by a doctor for pregnancy, prepare for maternity leave. She took vacation the next week and dedicated it to bureaucratic procedures.

Certificates from the psychiatric and narcological dispensaries, references from work, income certificates, examinations by therapist, gynecologist, ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist. Every day a new office, new documents. On Wednesday, she went to Mike again.

This time she brought a photo album with school pictures. The boy looked at the photos greedily, absorbing every detail. Here’s mom at the school assembly on September 1, Paula showed.

And here’s us on a museum excursion. And this is a photo from the ninth-grade prom. Mom is beautiful, Mike said, examining the picture of Nina in a white dress with a big bow in her hair.

Very beautiful. And you look like her. And why did she leave school after ninth grade? Her family moved to another city.

Dad got a new job. And who is my dad? This was a difficult question. Paula didn’t know the truth about Mike’s father, but saw in the documents that the father field was empty.

I don’t know. She answered honestly. Maybe your mom will tell you herself when you grow up.

How can she tell? She’s dead. People don’t die completely, Mike. They remain in our hearts, in our memories.

And sometimes they find a way to send us important messages. Like my note to you. Exactly like that.

On Monday, Paula went back to work. That same day, an event happened that changed everything. Paula was in the operating room—a complex heart surgery, patient with multiple pathologies.

The operation lasted 6 hours, and when it ended, Paula was exhausted to the limit. She was changing out of her medical clothes when a nurse approached her in the locker room. Paula, you have a visitor.

Says it’s urgent. Who? A man. Alex Jenkins.

Paula froze. Alex. Her ex-husband.

What did he need? She went down to the hospital lobby. Alex stood by the window, back to the entrance. He had lost weight, looked tired.

When he turned, Paula saw something new in his eyes—remorse. Hi, Paula. What do you need, Alex? To talk.

Please. I have nothing to discuss with you. Paula, I know about the child.

She froze. How could he know? From where? Karen told me. I met her by chance.

We talked. Paula, why didn’t you tell me anything? And what should I have said? That I’m pregnant from a man who left me for a young mistress? I came back, Alex said quietly. What? I broke up with Ingrid.

I realized I made a mistake. Paula, I want to come back to you. Paula looked at him and felt.

Nothing. Before, these words would have made her heart beat faster. Now they left her indifferent.

Too late, Alex. No, not too late. We’ll have a child, we can start over.

I realized I love you, that Ingrid was just. An infatuation. Infatuation, Paula repeated.

You destroyed our family for an infatuation. Paula, forgive me. Let’s try again.

No. Why? Because I’ve changed. Because now I have other plans.

I can’t trust a person who has already betrayed me once. But the child. He’s mine too.

Biologically, yes. But you won’t be the father. Paula, you can’t deprive me of the child…