Jack lay there crying. He was hungry. He was also very damp and therefore cold. Just a short time ago he was protected. He was warm and calm. And then he was born. And he was all alone. From time to time he was taken by stiff cold hands, his wet diapers were changed into dry ones, he was laid on his side, and a pacifier was put into his mouth, from which a liquid mixture came.
Having dulled his hunger, Jack would fall asleep and wake up from being wet and cold again. Despite his still very small presence in this world, he understood that something had gone wrong – he was not supposed to be alone. And he also understood that a certain amount of time passes between the appearance of stiff, cold hands. And crying won’t do it – it won’t come sooner. But he cried anyway. Simply because there was nothing else he could do.
-Eva, hi! Who did you leave her with? – Her roommate was walking towards her.
-With the nurse,” the girl muttered, and hurried away from the old woman.
-What do you mean with the nurse? – Not understanding what she had just heard, the grandmother stopped in the middle of the street. – Why do we have nurses here? Wait a minute!
The old woman rushed to catch up with the girl.
– Eva, what nurse?
-The usual one! I left him at the maternity hospital! I don’t need him! – The girl screamed. – Leave me alone!
-You must be out of your mind, girl! – the old woman spluttered her hands. – The native child! A stranger’s child!
The girl wanted to yell at the neighbor, but then she came to her senses in time: her grandmother always helped her out. She fed her mother when she drank all the money and there was not even a crumb of bread at home, let her stay overnight when another one of her mother’s suitors began to run amok. Eva even lived with her from time to time.
Her neighbor was the only one who didn’t judge the girl when she got pregnant by her classmate, who, out of fear, dumped her. She also dissuaded her from having an abortion, convincing her that she could remain infertile after that. Then the girl decided that she was going to keep the baby in the orphanage.
During the pregnancy she got used to the baby inside her. She even began to talk to it, stroking her belly. She laughed when the baby started kicking. But a painful delivery brought her thoughts back to the original plan. The baby was left in the care of the state.
-Come to me! – Grandma took the girl by the hand. – I baked a cake. I thought I’d restore your strength. And you… Look at you!
The girl obediently followed the old woman.
-What am I gonna do with him? What am I going to raise him with? I don’t work, I’m studying, I have no money, – the girl excused herself.
-And what’s it like for him? He didn’t ask to give birth to himself! It is a hundred times worse for him now: he can’t do anything! He is lying now, poor thing, in wet diapers and crying! There are all by the hour – at least cry! Do not you feel sorry for your own little blood? What’s he guilty of?
– Why are you tearing my heart out? What do you want from me?
-I want you to come to your senses! Do you like being unwanted all your life? You’ve been like a worm in the field all your life, untouched and unloved… Is that really the life you want for your child?
-I had you,” Eva smiled through her tears.
-And who did he have? No-o-o-o-o!
-So go and get your baby back! Who did you give birth to?
-A baby boy…
-There! Go and get it! Bring him to me! You’ll live with me! We’ll grow up together someday, not worse than others! I have a lot of clothes left over from my grandchildren – something to dress the boy up in! I’ll sit here once in a while, while you study. Come on! Go on!
Nick woke up again from the cold. He was wet and hungry again. There was silence. So it was still early. And it was useless to cry. But he wanted very much. Suddenly loud voices were heard. Someone came to the crib and took him in their arms. His hands were soft and warm.
-My little son,” whispered an unfamiliar, but so familiar voice. In a few minutes Nick was in a new thing called a diaper, new warm pants, a sweater and a hat. Wrapped in a warm blanket and in his arms, the warmth of which could be felt even through his clothes. He understood – his mother had come for him!
Eva corrected the flowers and looked at the picture of the smiling old woman. How long since she had been to this cemetery!
-You forgive me, – said the woman, -you know, the birth of a grandchild takes a lot of time. My daughter-in-law had a very difficult birth. My husband and I were very worried. But thank God everything turned out well! She is already at home. Her husband is so caring! And he didn’t want to have children in the following years! He said that they will have time yet! Almost sent her to an abortion! Well I talked him out of it! And now I’m having a baby… Well, how can I? My own blood!
Footsteps were heard behind her. Two men approached the grave.
-How is our grandmother? – smiling, asked the man.
-She’s listening…” answered Eva.
-And we came to tell you that we are waiting for the new baby! – Nick hugged his wife.
-Well, at last! -Eva was delighted. – Your sweetheart has decided to be a father after all!
They stood over the grave for a while, said goodbye and went to the car. Behind them from the picture looked still smiling grandmother, thanks to which once a young, lost girl found a family and happiness.
