“That scar…

I looked down.

A thin line ran through my belly.

It had been there for years.

For me it was something normal.

But when I saw Manuel’s expression, I felt a chill.

“What about her?” I asked.

Manuel sat on the edge of the bed, still looking at her.

“That scar… is from a cesarean section.

I nodded.

“Yes. When my youngest son was born.

But Manuel slowly denied it.

“No.

I frowned.

“What do you mean?”

He looked up at me, his eyes filled with a strange emotion.

“That scar is not from a common cesarean section.

My heart started beating faster.

“Then of what?”

Manuel took a deep breath.

“Many years ago… when I worked in the north… I had a doctor friend.

I looked at him confused.

“What does that have to do with it?”

“He told me a story.

The air in the room seemed to have become heavier.

“A young woman arrived at the hospital with a complicated pregnancy. He was poor. I didn’t have the money to pay for treatment. And the birth was too early.

I felt a growing uneasiness.

“And?”

Manuel continued.

“The baby was born prematurely. Very weak. Doctors weren’t sure he would survive.

My hands began to tremble.

“Manuel… why are you telling me this?”

He looked directly at me.

“Because the doctor told me something I never forgot.”

Silence stretched between us.

“He said the woman asked for something desperate.

My throat went dry.

“He asked that if the baby survived…” they gave him to another family who could take care of him.

I felt the ground disappear beneath my feet.

“That… that happens sometimes,” I murmured.

Manuel nodded slowly.

“Yes.

Then his eyes returned to my scar.

“And that woman had exactly the same scar.

The air turned cold.

“That’s impossible,” I said quickly.

But Manuel continued talking.

“The woman was young. He was in his twenties.

Twenty years.

The same age I was when he left.

“He was from a small town in the south.

I felt my breathing become irregular.

“And the doctor told me something else.

“What?”

Manuel spoke in a soft voice.

“The woman was crying because she had lost the man she loved. He had gone to work far away… and she didn’t know how to contact him.

My heart was pounding against my chest.

“Manuel…

He continued.

“And before you give up the baby—” The woman said something.

He looked me straight in the eye.

“He said that if that man ever came back…” I hoped that he could be happy, even if he never knew about that son.

Tears began to fall down my cheeks.

“How… How do you know all that?

Manuel got up slowly.

“Because that doctor was my best friend.

Silence fell on us.

“For years I thought it was just a sad story.

He swallowed hard.

“Until I saw you again.”

He looked at my scar again.

“And I knew.

I covered my face with my hands.

“I… I was afraid.

The words came out between sobs.

“My family was poor. You were far away. No one knew how to find you. And when the baby was born… I was so weak…

My voice broke.

“They told me that maybe I wouldn’t survive.

Manuel listened in silence.

“I thought that if I gave it to a rich family… I would have a chance.

“And did he survive?” Manuel asked.

I nodded slowly.

“Yes.

“Do you know where he is now?”

I took a deep breath.

“Yes.

Manuel stood still.

“It’s… my eldest son.

The same one who had been against our marriage.

The same one who lived in another city.

Manuel closed his eyes.

For a moment I thought he was angry.

But when he opened them again… They were full of tears.

“So,” he whispered, “all this time…”

“Yes.

My voice trembled.

“That son is yours too.

Manuel sat down slowly.

Tears streamed down his face.

“I have a son…” And I never knew.

I approached him carefully.

“I didn’t know how to tell you either.

“Does he know?”

I shook my head.

“No.

Silence filled the room again.

But this time it was different.

Manuel took my hand.

“Do you think that… Will you ever want to meet me?

I smiled through tears.

“I think so.

He took a deep breath.

“Then…” Maybe our story didn’t end when we were in our twenties.

I hugged him.

And at that moment I understood something that li