Chapter Seven: Five years later
1493 Words
*Nina*
The hospital room smelled of antiseptic and weak tea.
Finn lay asleep in the small bed by the window, his tiny hand curled around the edge of the oxygen monitor. His skin was paler than it had been the week before. Purple-and-yellow bruises mottled his ankle from a bump he shouldn't have bruised so badly from.
It had been four years since I gave birth to my triplets and five years since I arrived in the United States.
Dr. Patel pulled a chair closer to my bedside and sat down. She didn't open Finn's medical chart immediately.
"Nina," she began gently, using the name on my file. "I have the results of Finn's genetic panel."
I sat up straighter, the blanket slipping from my shoulders.
Only Dr. Patel, Finn, and I were in the room. My other two children were with Dr. Daniel, the doctor who had discovered my pregnancy five years ago.
"It's called Paternal-Linked Thymosin Deficiency, or PLTD," Dr. Patel explained. "It's extremely rare. We've documented only about twelve cases in the past decade."
I blinked. “Rare how?”
"It means Finn's immune system isn't producing enough thymosin," she explained patiently. "That's why he catches infections so easily, bruises with the slightest injury, and has difficulty clotting blood."
She paused before continuing.
"It's a recessive genetic disorder, and based on your family history, it appears to have been inherited from his father's side."
Silence filled the room.
Only the steady beeping of Finn's monitor broke it.
"So... you need his father."
It wasn't a question.
"I need his genetic sample," Dr. Patel replied softly. "We already have Finn's DNA, but without identifying the paternal genetic variant, we're essentially guessing which treatment will work."
She folded her hands together.
"And with PLTD, trial-and-error treatment isn't safe. Every failed attempt puts more stress on his immune system and vital organs."
My throat tightened.
"I... I don't even know who his father is," I whispered.
"I understand," Dr. Patel said sympathetically. "But without that genetic information, there's only so much we can do."
I looked over at Finn.
He slept peacefully, completely unaware that his life had suddenly become a race against time.
"How long do we have?" I asked quietly.
Dr. Patel sighed.
"With supportive care alone, perhaps two months before irreversible organ damage begins."
Her words pierced straight through my heart.
"But if we identify his father's genetic variant, we can develop targeted treatment."
She closed Finn's file.
"You need to go back, Nina."
Her eyes met mine.
"You need to return to your hometown and find his father."
Outside the room, nurses hurried through the hallway while visitors chatted as though nothing had changed.
Inside, my entire world had stopped.
The trip I had avoided for five years had suddenly become unavoidable.
I nodded slowly.
For Finn...
I would go back.
I immediately messaged Zoe, explaining everything.
Then I called Dr. Daniel.
Ever since he confirmed my pregnancy, he has been there for me.
He had referred Finn to this hospital, helped with every specialist appointment, and supported us through countless difficult nights.
Over the years, our doctor-patient relationship had gradually turned into friendship.
Although...
I knew he had always wanted something more.
***************
Three days later, Finn was discharged.
Fortunately, I had already completed my degree. Unfortunately, time wasn't on my side.
I couldn't lose my son.
The biggest problem was finding a man whose name I didn't know. A man I'd spent only one night with.
Where was I supposed to begin?
Should I ask every man in my hometown for a DNA test?
As ridiculous as it sounded, one thing was certain.
If I wanted to save Finn... I had to find his father.
"Mummy!"
Three little voices called out together.
My triplets ran toward me the moment they saw me, and I smiled as I pulled all three into my arms.
Raising them hadn't been easy. But they were my greatest blessing.
Each of them had their own unique way of filling my life with joy.
I had just arrived at Daniel's house to pick them up after school. He had collected them earlier that afternoon.
"Uncle Daniel bought us ice cream today!" Mia blurted excitedly.
I smiled and gently rubbed her head.
"Did you thank Uncle Daniel?"
"Yes!" She replied proudly.
I smiled.
At least Finn looked healthy today. Even if I knew it was only temporary.
"Mummy!" Evan said excitedly.
"My teacher asked the whole class to clap for me because I answered every question correctly!"
He flashed his tiny, perfectly arranged teeth. My heart melted.
As much as I regretted that reckless night years ago...
I would never regret my children.
They were intelligent.
Kind.
Beautiful.
Perfect.
"You three, go and get your things. It's time to go home."
"Okay, Mummy!" They chorused before running upstairs.
"Don't run, Finn!" I quickly called after him.
"Okay, Mummy!"
Daniel waited until the children disappeared upstairs before speaking.
"So... you're leaving tomorrow?"
"Yes."
I sighed.
"I don't have a choice anymore. I have to find their father."
"I wish I could go with you," Daniel said quietly. "But you know how busy the hospital is."
"I know."
I gently pulled my hand from his.
"The kids are coming. Let me drive you home."
"Thank you."
*******************
After dinner, I tucked the children into bed.
"Mummy..." Mia called softly.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Is Uncle Daniel our daddy?"
"Yeah," Evan added.
"We wish he were our dad. He's so nice to us." Finn nodded in agreement.
My heart ached.
"No, babies."
I smiled gently.
"Uncle Daniel isn't your father." I stroked their hair.
"Isn't Mummy enough?"
"Mummy is enough," they answered together.
Then Finn spoke again.
"But our classmates laugh at us." "They say we don't have a daddy."
His innocent words shattered my heart.
Not having a father had always made them easy targets for bullies.
Sometimes...
I almost asked Daniel to pretend to be their father. But I could never bring myself to do it.
I closed my eyes. If only I hadn't made that mistake years ago... Maybe Finn wouldn't be suffering now.
"Mummy..."
Mia whispered after her brothers had fallen asleep.
We all shared one small bedroom because it was all I could afford.
"Yes, baby?"
"Are we going to meet Daddy when we travel tomorrow?"
The question caught me completely off guard.
I had always told them their father lived in my hometown and was busy managing his company. But I knew they didn't fully believe me.
The truth was...
Even I didn't know who their father really was.
**************
The next morning, we packed our belongings.
Zoe had already sent our flight tickets.
By 3:38 PM, we landed in my home country. After collecting our luggage, we waited outside the airport for Zoe.
While we waited, Finn tugged gently on my sleeve.
"Mummy... I'm thirsty."
"I'll go buy you some water." I pointed toward a nearby convenience store.
"Stay here with your brother and sister."
"Aunty Zoe will arrive in a black car."
"Okay, Mummy," they replied together.
I smiled and hurried away.
When I returned a few minutes later, my heart nearly stopped.
The triplets were climbing into a black luxury SUV that had just pulled up beside them.
At first, I thought Zoe had arrived early. I hurried over to help with the luggage.
But the closer I got...
The stranger inside never stepped out. Something felt wrong. Then a deep masculine voice spoke.
"Is this how you raise your children?"
"They climb into any stranger's car they see?"
I froze.
"I'm so sorry, sir."
I quickly waved for the children to come out.
"Mummy..."
Evan looked between Finn and the man.
"Is he our daddy?"
"He looks like Finn."
The man's expression darkened.
"Oh."
"So they're fatherless."
"No wonder they have such poor manners."
Mia's eyes immediately filled with tears.
"Don't say that about us!" She cried.
Anger surged through me.
"Just because they mistook you for someone else doesn't give you the right to insult my children." Finn climbed out of the car and glared at the man.
"We don't want you to be our daddy anyway."
The three of them hurried back to my side.
"Mummy..."
Mia lowered her head.
"We're sorry."
"We thought he was Daddy because he came in a black car."
"We thought Aunty Zoe asked him to pick us up."
I smiled sadly and pulled all three into my arms.
"It's okay."
Just then...
A familiar horn sounded behind us.
I turned around. A sleek black Mercedes rolled to a stop.
The driver's door opened. Zoe stepped out with a bright smile.
"Aunty Zoe!"
The children squealed as they ran toward her. She laughed and opened her arms wide, hugging all three tightly.
I watched them together, smiling despite everything.
None of us noticed the man inside the black SUV watching us through his tinted window...
His golden eyes never left Finn's face.
- Writer
