Santa Cruz Hospital - Maternity Ward - 11 PM
Julia was in advanced labor.
Six centimeters dilated. Contractions every three minutes.
And I...
I was there. In the waiting room. With a woman I barely knew. Who might be manipulating me.
Because Rafael hadn't arrived yet.
— Miss Elena. — A nurse approached. — The patient is asking for you. She's alone and scared. She'd like you to come in.
— Me? — I wasn't expecting this. — But the father? Rafael Monteiro? Was he notified?
— We tried to contact him. Several times. His phone is off.
Off.
Rafael had his cell phone off while his pregnant girlfriend was in labor.
That was strange and suspicious.
Or did Julia lie about calling him?
— I'm going in. — I decided. Not for Julia. But because I needed to observe. To understand what was happening.
________________________________________
Delivery Room
Julia was pale. Sweating. Clutching the bed rails.
