—No!
The scream came out of me with such force that even I was surprised.
The rain kept falling.
The hospital guards watched from afar.
Some nurses had stopped at the entrance.
But I didn’t care about anything anymore.
—I want the truth.
My mother took a deep breath.
Then he took another step closer.
—The truth —he said slowly— is that that woman was going to condemn you to a miserable life.
I felt the air get stuck.
—That?
—He lived in a sheet room. Without money. Without education. Without future. When you were born, he could barely feed himself.
María Elena lowered her head.
—That doesn’t give you the right to steal a baby.
My mother ignored her.
—I worked at that clinic as an administrator. I saw the opportunity to save you.
—Save me?
—Give you a better life.
The world began to spin.
—So…?
—Yes —my mother said—. I did the papers. We pay what is necessary. We legalize your adoption.
María Elena looked up furiously.
