«What was your gynecologist thinking?!» the doctors shouted during the birth of the 56-year-old woman..

The town women were chattering about Mike and Claudia. «Hey, Vicky, Mike went crazy after Claudia’s death. Cross my heart, I heard it myself,» one of the neighbors chirped.

«I agree with you, Mary, yesterday I asked him when Claudia’s funeral would be. He was delirious, talking nonsense. The man couldn’t bear the grief, even stopped going to the maternity hospital.

It happens, pity him.» Though town talks are often like gossip, this time the gossip was the terrible truth, which even Irene, Mike’s daughter, didn’t want to believe. The sudden death of her mother shook her.

She always thought her parents would be at hand and wasn’t ready for their departure. But it never occurred to her that her guilt was in her mother’s death. Irene’s heart had hardened so much that she didn’t feel her guilt and it didn’t occur to her to repent.

«Dad, we need to bury Mom, let’s decide on the funeral.» The girl said excitedly. «What is it, honey, what are you talking about? Who to bury? Mom went to visit relatives, to your grandma, she’ll be back soon.»

Mike replied as if nothing happened. «Dad, what? Grandma died long ago, and yesterday Mom died too.» «Oh dear, Irene, you’ve been reading adult books about the dead again,» Mike said and shook his head.

«When Mom comes back, she’ll scold you for it, oh, she will. Better look at the weather outside, the sun is shining bright, go for a walk, or you’ll go to school and won’t have time, go, Irene, go, just don’t stay out late, come back early so Mom and I don’t worry.» Irene looked at her father in horror.

She couldn’t say anything more. She got very scared hearing his words. Her hands and legs trembled from fear.

Unable to control herself, Irene rushed out to the street and pounded on the neighbor’s door with all her might. «Aunt Gail, please open,» the girl shouted loudly. «Coming, coming,» a voice came from inside the house, and a few seconds later the door swung open and Gail Matthews appeared on the threshold.

She and Mom used to work at the post office and were friends. «Irene, what happened to you?» the woman asked excitedly. «We need to bury Mom, and Dad, he…» Irene hesitated.

«He’s forgotten everything, as if he’s flown to another planet. Please help.» «You’re right, Irene, there are pains some people can’t cope with, your dad couldn’t either.

Don’t worry, we’ll take care of the funeral, everyone in town loved and respected Claudia.» What to do with Claudia’s kids? Gail Matthews asked the question Irene hadn’t even thought about. «Aunt Gail, I can’t take them, how can I raise them without money, my waitress salary won’t even cover diapers, and besides, the kids are sick.

You decide this with the maternity hospital, Irene, I know you can write a statement there refusing the children.» When the woman said these words, her heart bled, probably God will punish her for this. But who to give the sick infants to? Irene is young, unmarried, what will she do with them? Without absolute desire to care for children and financial means.

Her father Mike has lost his mind because of Claudia’s death. Claudia has no relatives able to take her children for upbringing. We all, Claudia’s friends, are not young, not very healthy, could end up in the cemetery any moment…