Chapter 4 Became A Young Mother

• This time I manage to go to the cafeteria without any problems. The anger keeps growing inside me, and everyone who passes by me avoids me.
• How could I be so stupid and let fear take over me?
• I have to take several deep breaths to try to calm down, but I can't. I am so angry that I don't realize I have hit the table and start shouting about how stupid he was.
• Having shouted made many people look at me like I was a weirdo. I sit back down and finish eating my sandwich and juice.
• The anger I felt immediately disappears when I see my grandmother entering the clinic. I stop walking to approach her.
• "Are you okay?"
• "Yes, grandma. Don't worry."
• "Why are you wearing that outfit?"
• "I didn't have an umbrella with me, I had to run under the rain. The nurse gave me her uniform so I wouldn't get sick."
• "Why are you here? If you're okay, let's go home."
• "We can't leave."
• "Why not?"
• "Mia is here."
• "Who is Mia?"
• "We can't talk here, we'll do it at home. I promise I'll tell you the whole truth, I swear. But I need you to support me on this."
• "What did you do now?"
• The look my grandmother gave me makes me feel small. I don't know how to tell her everything, so I whispered the most important part.
• "I... I became a young mother."
• "What did you say?"
• "Let's talk somewhere else, please."
• I don't let her say anything, so I take her hand and lead her to the room where Mia is waiting for us.
• I sigh before opening the door and entering with my grandmother, I am more than sure that she will want to kill me when she knows the truth.
• "Mrs.Clarisa."
• She turns to look at me, smiles at me, and I see that she has Mia in her arms feeding her.
• "Mia woke up hungry and since you weren't here, I decided to give her a bottle. I hope you don't mind."
• "I don't mind, thank you for doing it."
• I feel guilty, lying to her about Mia's truth made me feel terrible.
• "Zoe..."
• I look at my grandmother who looks at me strangely, I make her come in and close the door with a lock. It is time to be honest with them, I am going to need their help on what to do.
• "Are you Zoe's grandmother?"
• "Yes, who are you?"
• "I'm Clarisa, I work here as a nurse."
• "I understand, but the baby."
• "Your great-granddaughter is very calm, she hasn't cried since she arrived with Zoe. Thank God you brought her in time, the baby was no longer breathing, we managed to stabilize her and we are waiting for the results of her tests to see if she can go home. Zoe... I don't see that your grandmother brought clothes for Mia with her."
• Upon hearing my name, I react to see both women. I look at them and start pacing back and forth.
• "Zoe."
• I look at my grandmother who is holding my hand to make me stop and give her an explanation of what is happening.
• "Mia is not my daughter, Mrs.Clarisa. I lied, but I have a reason for doing it."
• "My girl, what did you do?"
• "Mia is not your daughter?"
• "She is not."
• "Then, who are her parents?"
• "I don't know."
• Both women look at each other and then look at me, Mrs Clarisa takes a step back with Mia still in her arms and I immediately explain the situation.
• "I found her in a box when I left school. I was on my way to work when I saw a very expensive car stop. A man got out with a box in his arms, it was very strange and he was very scary. I couldn't see his face because of the umbrella he was carrying. When he left, I was going to continue on my way, but I heard Mia's crying. When I opened the box, there she was, not breathing, and I ran with her in my arms to this hospital, I needed help and I don't know why I named her Mia, or why I lied about being her mother. What I do know is that that person was waiting for the baby to die there."
• "So, you didn't kidnap this baby?"
• I look at Mrs.Clarisa offended by what she said.
• "I didn't do it, I didn't kidnap anyone, or steal her, or anything. I'm telling the truth. Grandma, I swear I'm telling the truth, I've never lied to you and won't with something so delicate.
• “I believe you, my girl."
• “If you're not her mother, I must report it to social services so they can care for the baby.”
• “No! They will take her to an orphanage, she will be alone and if that man finds her, he could kill her.”
• “Zoe....”
• “Mrs.Clarisa, believe me, if that man didn't want the baby dead. He wouldn't have left her in that place where no one ever passes by. I always pass by there, because it's a shortcut to my work, but that place is always empty. If he didn't want the baby dead, he could have taken her to the orphanage. Don't you think?
• They both look at each other doubtfully, but then their expressions make me understand that I am right.
• “My granddaughter is right. The most sensible thing would have been to leave her at an orphanage, not on the street and especially not in such horrendous weather.”
• “Still, I must report it. It is my duty as a nurse in this hospital.”
• “Please, give me a chance. I want to give Mia a home, I will look for her parents and take care of her.”
• “But daughter...”
• “Grandma, please.”
• Tears and sadness take over me. I don't want to be away from Mia, even if it is just for a few hours since I found her.
• I don't want to lose her. She is an adorable baby, I don’t want to be away from her and it hurts to think that I have to.
• None of them say anything, we just stay silent. I hear some footsteps approaching here, I unlock the door and look at them begging them not to say anything.
• “I see you arrived before Clarisa.”
• “Yes, doctor. I came to see how Mia was."