Family dinner was proceeding calmly: casual conversations, cheerful dancing, music. Everyone at the table was smiling, and I was trying not to show how tired I was after a long day at work. My daughter sat nearby, picking at her salad with a fork, but she seemed tense.<\/p>\n
And suddenly, I felt her fingers barely brush mine under the table. Then she quickly pressed something small and soft into my palm\u2014a folded note.<\/p>\n
I unfolded it under the table, trying not to attract attention. Written on the napkin in a childish, uneven handwriting:<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, immediately pretend to be ill and get out!\u201d<\/p>\n
I started to panic. I looked up\u2014my daughter was sitting upright, pale, her lips trembling. Not the slightest hint of a joke.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t understand anything, but something told me I had to do as my daughter said. I slowly raised my hand to my temple, allowed myself to sway slightly, and quietly said,<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry\u2026 I suddenly felt sick\u2026 my head is spinning\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
My mother-in-law leaned forward, raising her eyebrows in surprise. My husband frowned.<\/p>\n
I stood up, feigning weakness, apologized to everyone, and headed toward the exit, feeling my mother-in-law\u2019s gaze literally burning into my back.<\/p>\n
In the hallway, I leaned against the wall, my breath caught in my throat. I waited for my daughter to come out and explain everything.<\/p>\n
Ten minutes later, the door opened slightly, and my daughter ran out\u2014pale, her eyes shining with tears. She grabbed my hand and whispered something that terrified me \ud83d\ude31\ud83d\ude32<\/p>\n
\u201cMom\u2026 Grandma wanted you to drink that juice. She put something in it\u2026 I saw\u2026\u201d her voice trembled.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat exactly?..\u201d My throat went dry.<\/p>\n
My daughter swallowed:<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard her talking on the phone\u2026 that \u2018it would be better this way,\u2019 that \u2018another girl for her son is pointless.\u2019 She said that if you lose the child, \u2018it will be easier from now on.’\u201d<\/p>\n
The world swam before my eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d I barely recognized my voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe poured the powder out of the little package while you were talking to Dad. I was sitting next to her\u2026 she thought I was looking at my phone\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
My daughter sobbed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, she knows you\u2019re having a girl soon. And she said, \u2018We don\u2019t need another.\u2019 She wanted you to lose the baby\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
My legs gave way, and I hit the wall with my back.<\/p>\n
And at that moment, my mother-in-law appeared at the end of the hallway.<\/p>\n
Her face was calm. Too calm.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you come to your senses yet?\u201d she asked, almost tenderly. \u201cShould I get you some water?\u201d<\/p>\n
My daughter squeezed my hand so hard her knuckles turned white:<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, don\u2019t drink anything\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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