The nurse extended her hands for the newborn. Alejandro hesitated before surrendering the child. She stroked the boy’s cheek tenderly, then carried him away to be cleaned and swaddled.

When Alejandro turned back, Valeria lay exhausted on the bed, her gaze averted.

“Why… why didn’t you ever tell me?” Alejandro asked, his voice hoarse.

Her lips quivered as tears slipped free.

“I… I wanted to. But everything collapsed around me. My parents pressured me, you were drowning in work… I thought you’d hate me, thought you’d leave me…”