PART 2
I woke up in a hospital bed with my throat dry and my body destroyed. The first thing I saw was Diego sitting beside me, crying like I had never seen him cry before.
My heart stopped.
I thought Camila hadn’t survived.
I tried to speak, but barely a sound came out. Diego took my hand and began kissing my fingers.
—They’re fine —he told me through sobs—. Both of you are fine.
At that moment, a nurse came in with a baby wrapped in a little pink blanket. When she placed her on my chest, the whole world went silent. Camila was so small, so warm, so perfect, that for a few seconds I forgot the fear.
But then everything came back.
The bathroom. The locked door. My phone in Doña Elena’s hands.
Diego told me he found me because Sofía noticed I hadn’t come back. She thought it was strange because I had told her earlier that I wasn’t feeling well. Diego ran upstairs, heard a weak thud, and had to call one of the venue employees to open the door.
They found me unconscious, lying on the floor, with strong contractions and blood on my dress.
Doña Elena confessed everything right there, but not out of remorse. She did it because Diego confronted her in front of everyone.
Valeria arrived at the hospital still wearing her wedding dress. Andrés came with his suit wrinkled, and Sofía with her makeup running. I expected anger, complaints, anything.
But Valeria came in crying and carefully hugged me.
—Forgive me —she said—. Forgive me for not seeing how far my mother could go.
I started apologizing for ruining her wedding, but she covered my mouth with her hand.
—You didn’t ruin anything. My niece was born on my wedding day. That was the most beautiful gift.
I broke down.
For the first time, I felt that those women really were my family.
