“What was your gynecologist thinking?!” the doctors shouted during the delivery of a 56-year-old woman. And when they saw who she gave birth to, they were simply speechless

But with a difficult personality. Irina left for the city to chase a career and personal life but found neither. She worked as a waitress in a café for a meager salary, and her personal life was a mess. She married a young man who left her after six months.

Despite all her misfortunes, Irina refused to return to the village but gladly accepted financial help from her parents. Claudia never complained about her fate. That’s just how it was.

But now she couldn’t hold back. She broke down. She wandered slowly through the village streets, waddling side to side like a duck.

Even her gait had changed. Her entire life flashed before her eyes like a vivid ribbon. Only the greetings of the villagers brought her back to reality.

“Good health to you, Claudia!” echoed from all sides. For a moment, Claudia imagined that soon these same villagers would mock her, saying entirely different things. That she’d lost her mind in her old age, that it was shameful to have a child at her age, a disgrace! The thought sent shivers down her spine.

She wouldn’t withstand the ridicule and scorn. Claudia knew this clearly. And Miron, with his stern personality, wouldn’t accept such a blow from fate either.

Her house was just a short distance away, only a small bridge over a river to cross. Suddenly, a wild thought struck Claudia. What if she jumped into the river from the bridge, ending all her problems at once, like chains weighing her down?

What about life? She’d lived most of it, and that was enough. God would forgive her; He forgives everyone. Claudia didn’t even remember the moment she climbed over the railing with difficulty and looked down at the murky water.

It was terrifying, but she would jump. Only seconds remained before she’d put an end to it all. Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the air.

It was her husband, Miron, who, by a stroke of luck, was in the right place at the right time. He saw her and saved Claudia from a reckless act. Miron’s heart clenched with fear as his wife, sobbing, told him about her pregnancy.

Yes, this wasn’t the peaceful, quiet old age he’d dreamed of. Diapers and crying at night were not part of his plans. But it was better than losing Claudia, he thought bitterly.

Only now, the stoic Miron realized how much he cherished his wife. The news of the pregnancy was so shocking that Miron and Claudia decided not to tell their daughter, Irina, just yet. They needed time to come to terms with the idea of having infants, and soon they did.

If God was sending them children, it must be His will, Miron and Claudia decided together. They visited the local church, praying to all the saints. They learned to cherish every day that brought them closer to the birth of their babies.

Days and months passed. Claudia’s pregnancy was difficult. Her legs swelled, and she suffered from nausea and headaches.

But tests and ultrasounds showed the babies were doing well. For Claudia, that was what mattered most, and she endured all the hardships stoically. Nothing hinted at trouble, but it crept up on Claudia and Miron from where they least expected it—from their closest person, their daughter, Irina.

They hadn’t found the courage to tell her everything. Who could have known that this hesitation would play a cruel trick on them? This Sunday was special.

Claudia’s pregnancy had passed the seven-month mark. That very day, Irina called. “Mom, I’m coming today, is that okay?” she chirped sweetly.

Irina rarely visited her parents in the village, no more than twice a year. Their communication was mostly limited to occasional phone calls. “Yes, of course, sweetheart,” Claudia replied.

Her voice trembled with anxiety, and her hands shook. Her belly stirred, as the babies’ kicks echoed her emotional turmoil.

Claudia and Miron waited for the evening with bated breath, when Irina would arrive. They regretted not telling their daughter about the pregnancy sooner. They knew Irina was a complicated person and braced for any reaction.

But what they heard from their own child exceeded all expectations. “Hey, Dad, I’m here for a bit, I need your help!” Irina said carelessly, pecking her father on the cheek. Seconds later, her face turned deathly pale, and her lower lip trembled with indignation.

“What’s that?” Irina exclaimed, staring at her mother. “Are you pregnant? You’re too old for this, have you lost your mind?” “Don’t you dare speak to your mother like that!” Miron snapped, defending Claudia. “And you’re just as bad,” Irina muttered at her father.

“You should be thinking about retirement and eternity, but instead, you’re planning to have kids.” Claudia and Miron were stunned with horror as Irina’s heartless shouts shook not only the air but also their hearts. “We raised a snake around our necks,” Miron thought.

“How did she become so cruel and heartless?” Irina grew more heated, scolding her parents like naughty schoolchildren. “Have you thought about the future? Who knows how long you’ll live? Don’t you dare burden me with this. I have my own life to figure out,” she fumed.

“I’m not going to raise your kids if it comes to that, don’t count on me.” Claudia’s blood ran cold at such words. A sense of hurt and bitterness overwhelmed her.

“Did I raise my daughter so poorly that I deserve this treatment?” she wondered, but found no answer. Tears welled up in her eyes. She swallowed Irina’s harsh words like a bitter pill.

She tried to compose herself, to calm down, but failed. Suddenly, Claudia felt nausea rising to her throat, and a second later, excruciating pain in her abdomen burned through her body. She screamed, clutching the wall, and slowly slid to the floor.

Miron rushed to her, grabbing her hand. “Claudia, what’s wrong?” “Miron, I’m in pain, call an ambulance.” “But it’s not time yet!” he stammered, bewildered.

“Call them!” Claudia pleaded, letting out another cry. She paled, her face contorted with unbearable pain. Then, her eyes rolled back, and she went limp in Miron’s arms.

He was so frightened that he couldn’t hold back tears. With trembling hands, he dialed the ambulance. “Hold on, the ambulance is coming, we’ll go to the hospital.”

By the time the ambulance arrived, Claudia was in a semi-conscious state, interrupted only by intense pain. They reached the city maternity hospital nearly an hour later. On a stretcher outside the operating room, Claudia, fading in and out, could only whisper to her husband…