PREGNANT BY A STRANGER

I wake up in the hospital. What happened to me? How did I get here? —Daughter, it’s so good to see you awake. —Yes, Mom, I'm fine. Calm down, don't cry. —Daughter, your health is very delicate. How can you ask me to calm down? Do you know how scared I was of losing you? —You won't lose me, Mom. —Good morning, Dad! —Good morning, Kamila. How are you feeling? —In pain, but it's normal after an operation. They still haven't told me what the operation was for. Can you tell me? —Has the doctor not come by? —I was asleep. I woke up a few minutes before you came in. Do you know what’s wrong with me, Joel? —Parents, can you leave? I want to talk to my sister alone. —Alright, though I don't see the point since we are her parents. —Dad, I believe I was very clear with you at the house this morning. So, can you please be quiet and leave? —Joel, you're scaring me. Please tell me what’s wrong with me and why Dad is acting like this towards me. —Kamila, you're pregnant! —What? Are you sure? —Yes, your operation was because a piece of the placenta detached. But don't worry, they placed a mesh to help you keep the pregnancy. Now, we have to wait and see if it holds. You need to be on complete bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy, as your life and the babies' lives are at risk. —Babies? Did you say that in plural? —Yes, Kamila, in plural. The doctor says she saw two, but it's still very early to be certain since you are only a month along. Can you tell me who the father is? And why did you keep this news from us? —First, I don't know who the father is! Remember the day I went to the party when Gabi had your son? I had arranged to go with Clemente, but he never showed up because his babysitter didn't come. So, I drank and danced. I don't remember the rest, nor how I got home, and I didn't know I was pregnant. —Oh my God, Kamila! Do you know what this means? You’re carrying babies from a stranger! —Yes, I know! I'll try to get the security footage from the club and look for him that way. —Calm down, you just need to focus on your pregnancy. I'll take care of everything. —Thanks, Joel. —It’s the least I can do for my little sister. Our father is upset because the pregnancy puts your health at risk. He preferred to terminate it, but I took care of the legal decisions. Don't be sad. You know I would never harm my nieces or nephews. So, here they are. If we don't find the father, I'll be their father. Now, please just take it easy. —Gabriela and I decided that you should live with us because Dad's attitude isn't good for your condition. I'll leave you the nurse I have for Joan and find another nanny for him. We want you to feel comfortable, and we will support you in everything. Gabi will take over the company, so you can just focus on eating and gaining weight like pregnant women do. —Thank you, brother. I love you both so much. But it hurts me how Dad is acting. I couldn't live knowing they were killed! I love you, Joel. You're the best brother in the world. —Stop crying; it's bad for you. Promise you'll ignore Dad's comments. —I'm going to be a mother! Can you believe it? At twenty-five, I surpassed you by a lot because there will be two! I'm always the best! —Ha, ha, ha, very funny. —Stop being envious; I surpassed you, ha, ha, ha. —I love how you see life, my little Kami. Never change. —What more could I ask for in life? I'm a successful woman. I have my own company, my own fortune, a growing career, and now I'll have my children. Tell me, can one be happier? —Yes, I'd love for you to find the father of the babies and maybe start a family. —That's not going to happen, at least not the way you think. I'm not going to force him into a relationship with me. I'm perfectly capable of raising my children and sharing time with their father. Look at everything that happened with you and Gabi by starting a marriage just as a favor. If things happen naturally, that's fine. Otherwise, I'm not going to tie myself to a man because of societal pressure. I'm very capable of raising my children alone, and I have everything I need for that. —Alright, sister. I respect your decision. In the end, only you know what's best for you and your children. —Thank you for respecting my decisions. —Now, can you tell Dad to come in, please? —Sure. —Father, Kamila wants you to come in. —Did you want to see me? —Yes, I need you to make your point clear, because this will be the first and last time we talk about this. —Well, Kamila, what do you want me to say? Do you know what it's like to see your daughter put her life at risk unnecessarily? There's no certainty that your body can handle this pregnancy. You should terminate it. You're still young. And where's the father of the babies? That's also important, isn't it? When did you plan to tell us you were pregnant? You were quite irresponsible, and that's why your health has reached this point. —First, I'm not going to terminate my pregnancy for anything or anyone. Whether my body can handle it or not is up to God. Second, I didn't know I was pregnant since I'm only a month along. Lastly, I don't know who the father is, but that doesn't matter to me because these are my children. Any problem with that? —Daughter, don't take it the wrong way. I know you are perfectly capable of raising them alone, but children need to grow up in a home with a family. Eventually, they will want to know their father. And I don't understand how a responsible woman like you doesn't know who the father is. —Because I drank too much and don't remember. It can happen to anyone, and I won't be the first or last single mother! Joel will take care of finding the father of my children, but if he doesn't, it's not a problem. I don't have high hopes of finding him because I don't think a man would want children conceived that way. He might not even be interested in being a father, and I can't do anything about that. I'll find him and inform him, but I won't force him to do anything, and I'm certainly not going to marry him like my brother did. You know well all the disasters that followed that. If you don't want to support me, I ask for the sake of our health that you stay out of it, please! —I hope you understand the consequences this pregnancy can have on your health. Regardless, I'm your father, and I'll be here for you even if I don't agree with your decision. You're my girl, and nothing will change that. —I am Kamila Fuente Mayor. I am twenty-six years old. I am from Miami. I graduated in computer engineering. I currently run a company with my best friend and sister-in-law, Gabriela Fuente Mayor. A night of partying, which I don't remember, brought me to this situation. Now, I'm pregnant by a stranger. I don't regret my pregnancy, but I do regret not remembering the father. Join me in discovering who the father of my child is. If Clemente had gone with me, these babies would likely be his! Could he be a businessman like me? A politician? A lawyer? My doubts arise because he managed to erase the evidence. If he were an ordinary person, he wouldn't have the means or connections to do that. Could he be the owner of the bar? That would make sense, as he could erase the recordings. The only thing I am clear about is that I will protect my children from anyone, including my father, who will find any excuse to ask me not to bring them into the world. But if I have to give my life to have them, I will. I am a strong and independent woman. I know I can handle this. And I won't tie myself to someone just out of obligation. The father of my children will have to understand that.