Everything’s fine with your baby. I just came to check on you. Everything hurts, Mia said pitifully.
That’s normal. It happens. Everything will pass.
The pain will subside. And there will be only joy that you now have a daughter, answered Barbara. She spoke quietly, calmly, though her lips trembled and her hands were shaking.
She clasped them together and sat down on the chair beside her. Mia, tell me, what happened to you? Why did you end up in the colony? Maybe I can help. Or is there something you need to inform your relatives about? I have no one, Mia answered softly.
And why I ended up there? Nobody believed me. And why would you? Tell me, will they really take my daughter away from me? Didn’t they say we’d be together until she was three? Saying this, Mia, overcoming the pain, raised herself on her elbow. Biting her already blooded lips, she stared unblinkingly at the doctor.
Barbara didn’t know how to answer. In this case, everything was out of her hands. I’ll try to find out everything, she reassured.
And you tell me about yourself. I can see that you’re not a criminal. You’re just in trouble.
That’s right, Mia cried. And I don’t know what to do. How to live on? And the girl told her story.
Barbara learned that as a child, Mia lived abroad with her father and his wife. She barely remembered her mother. Her father said she had died.
Her stepmother constantly insulted her. Abroad, her father’s business began to fall apart, forcing them to move to the homeland. But even here things went poorly.
A few years later, her father and stepmother died in an accident and the bank seized all their property for debts. At 15, Mia found herself in an orphanage. The three years before graduation became a living hell.
Her peers disliked her, considering her a white crow. She endured constant cruel jokes and nagging, with no friends to turn to. Finishing school became her salvation.
The girl thought all the hardships in her life were over, but everything was just beginning. Mia had a talent for drawing and dreamed of becoming a clothing designer. She enrolled in a college and thankfully the state provided her as an orphan with a small apartment, her sanctuary of comfort and peace.
After classes, she would come home and dream. Mia envisioned becoming a designer with her own atelier. She would meet her prince, build a strong family and have at least three children.
Mia longed for a large family, certain she would make a wonderful mother. She would be the most loving, the most tender, just like her own mother, whom she barely remembered. Only in dreams did she glimpse her mother’s hazy image and hear her forgotten voice, so melodious and soft.
Her father never spoke about her and no photographs survived. He claimed the photo album was lost during the move and digital versions were corrupted by a virus. Her mum’s name was like yours, Barbara, Mia told the doctor, sharing her memories.
She didn’t notice how Barbara turned pale and clasped her hands tighter as she continued her story. After graduating from college, she found work at a sewing factory. She excelled at everything, earning praise from her supervisor.
A promotion seemed possible and she even considered further education, but fate took a sharp turn. Mia met Nigel, a handsome young man with an expensive car who showered her with gifts and flowers. Mia’s heart melted.
Her dreams seemed within reach and she imagined their wedding. Nigel had influential parents, his father in the police, his mother in city administration. The orphan girl believed that they would like her, even though she herself had not a penny.
After all, Nigel loved her. She waited for him to introduce her to his parents, but he kept postponing, citing his busy work schedule. Mia could never understand his work, vague trips, meetings, communications.
Nigel just laughed, saying it wasn’t time for her to know everything yet. Then the police raided her small apartment and found illegal substances. Mia was stunned.
Where had they come from? The truth about Nigel’s real activities began to dawn on her. He had been using her apartment to store his goods. He escaped consequences.
His influential relatives protected him. They made it appear as though Mia was involved in possessing and selling illegal substances. No one believed her protests of innocence.
They pressed her to reveal her accomplices, promising a reduced sentence for cooperation. But Mia truly knew nothing. Nigel pretended complete innocence, even testifying for the prosecution.
Mia couldn’t believe her beloved would betray her like this. She had trusted him completely, yet he had used and ruined her without any hesitation or remorse. Her state-appointed lawyer made no attempt to defend her, and the judge sentenced her to five years in a general regime colony.
Once in prison, Mia lost her will to live. Deceived, trampled, slandered. Why had they done this to her? There were so many questions, but no answers.
If it hadn’t been for the support of one fellow prisoner at the very beginning, who knows how it would have ended. Lena was serving time for theft and had a young son living with his grandmother. Despite her circumstances, Lena remained optimistic and kept telling Mia that she had to live, to live in spite of all her enemies.
When you get out, then you’ll settle scores, she said. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Mia only nodded weakly in response.
Revenge? She couldn’t. She wouldn’t be able to. And she couldn’t bear being locked up for so many years.
Then came the unexpected news. Mia was pregnant. The prison doctor discovered it during her next medical examination and immediately asked if she planned to keep the child.
I do, Mia answered firmly. A ray of hope flickered in her fate. She was no longer alone in this vast world of lies and deceit.
Against all odds, she would endure to raise her baby. Lena supported her friend’s decision. There was a possibility of parole.
Mia could live with the baby for up to three years, though in a different colony. They would have to part ways, but it was manageable. Plans were made to transfer Mia to another colony, but the paperwork kept getting delayed.
They delayed until her 40th week and on the bumpy road to the new prison, Mia went into labor. Thankfully, they encountered this maternity hospital on the way. You are my savior, Dr. Gibbs, Mia whispered, finishing her story.
Thank you. I’m just afraid now. Will they really send me back to the old colony? What about my daughter? They promised not to separate us.
What should I do? Mia, I’ll try to help you, Barbara said, her voice trembling. Poor girl, you’ve been through so much. Don’t worry too much.
Everything will improve. Now get some rest. She ran a trembling hand through Mia’s hair, then stood up abruptly and left before the girl could see her tears.
Oh, God, how Barbara wanted to embrace this girl. Hold her close, shield her from the world. Yes, this was her daughter.
Now she knew it for sure. But it was too soon to tell Mia. Her girl had already endured so many trials, with more surely to come.