“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

One of the girls had an underdeveloped optic nerve, rendering her nearly blind. The other had a severe heart defect.

“She won’t live two months,” the doctors predicted. The news of Claudia’s death and the babies’ dire diagnoses was devastating for Miron. No, he didn’t take his own life, but his mind refused to accept what had happened.

Village gossip was in full swing about Miron and Claudia. “Listen, Vasilyevna, Miron’s gone mad after Claudia’s death. I swear, I heard it myself,” one neighbor chattered.

“I agree, Matveevna. Yesterday, I asked him when Claudia’s funeral would be. He was out of it, rambling nonsense. The man couldn’t handle the grief, he doesn’t even go to the hospital anymore. It happens. Poor thing.” Though village gossip often resembled rumors, this time the rumors were the grim truth, which even Irina, Miron’s daughter, didn’t want to believe. Her mother’s sudden death shook her.

She always thought her parents would always be there and wasn’t prepared for their loss. But it never crossed her mind that she bore some responsibility for her mother’s death. Irina’s heart had grown so callous that she felt no guilt and never considered repenting.

“Dad, we need to bury Mom. Let’s figure out the funeral,” she said nervously. “What’s that, sweetheart? Bury who? Mom’s gone to visit her relatives, your grandma. She’ll be back soon,” Miron replied casually.

“Dad, what are you saying? Grandma died long ago, and Mom died yesterday.” “Oh, Irina, you’ve been reading those grown-up books about dead people again,” Miron said, shaking his head.

“When Mom comes back, she’ll give you a talking-to, oh, she will. Look at the weather outside, the sun’s shining bright. Go for a walk, or you’ll be stuck in school with no time for fun. Go, Irinushka, but don’t stay out too late, so Mom and I don’t worry.” Irina stared at her father in horror.

She couldn’t say another word. His words terrified her. Her hands and legs trembled with fear.

Unable to control herself, Irina bolted outside and pounded on the neighbor’s door. “Aunt Galya, please open!” she shouted. “Coming, coming,” a voice called from inside, and seconds later, the door swung open, revealing Galina Matveevna.

She and Irina’s mother had once worked together at the post office and were friends. “Ira, what’s happened?” the woman asked, concerned. “We need to bury Mom, but Dad, he…” Irina hesitated.

“He’s forgotten everything, like he’s on another planet. Please help.” “You’re right, Ira. Some pains are too much for people to bear, and your dad couldn’t cope,” Galina said.

“Don’t worry, we’ll take care of the funeral. Everyone in the village loved and respected Claudia. But what about Claudia’s babies?” Galina Matveevna asked a question Irina hadn’t even considered. “Aunt Galya, I can’t take them. How would I raise them with no money? My waitress salary wouldn’t even cover diapers, and they’re sick.”

“You need to sort this out with the hospital, Ira. I know you can sign a form to give them up.” As she spoke, Galina’s heart bled. She knew God might punish her for this. But who could take in sick infants? Irina was young, unmarried—what could she do with them? Her father, Miron, had lost his senses after Claudia’s death. Claudia had no relatives able to take the children. All of Claudia’s friends, including Galina, were old and not in great health, liable to end up in the cemetery themselves any day.

“Forgive me, Lord, for telling her to give up the children. It’s a great sin, I know. But right now, they’d be better off in state care, and maybe later, a childless couple will adopt them. I’ve heard it happens, even with sick kids,” Galina whispered in silent repentance. Galina Matveevna kept her word and organized Claudia’s funeral. The entire village came to mourn Claudia; many loved and respected her and knew what had happened.

This made the bitterness of the loss even heavier. But Claudia’s family wasn’t with her in this sorrowful moment. Irina attended but kept her distance, too afraid to approach the coffin and look at her mother’s lifeless face.

She never mustered the courage to ask for forgiveness for her cruelty. Miron didn’t even come to the cemetery, lost in his blissful oblivion. He had regressed to a time when he and Claudia were young, and Irina was just starting school…