When my husband found out I was pregnant, he said he would kick me out of the house if we had a girl. At first I thought he was just joking, how could you give up your wife and child just because of their gender. When I found out at the doctor’s office that we were having a girl, I was even afraid to tell my husband. On the day of the birth, I realized my husband wasn’t joking.
When our daughter was born, he came into the room and…
I didn’t expect that from him.
I remember him saying it coldly, as if it wasn’t about me or our child:
“Just a boy. If it’s a girl, pack your things.”
I thought he was joking. Or trying to play some kind of “man of tradition.” But there was no humor in his eyes.
I lived in fear the entire pregnancy. At the ultrasound, I begged the doctor not to tell me the gender. I hoped until the very end. Maybe it was a girl, but he would change his mind. After all, he loves me?
When the contractions started, he brought me to the hospital in silence. He didn’t even kiss me goodbye.
The birth was difficult. Doctors were running around, lamps were shining in my face, I didn’t understand what was happening – until I heard a quiet cry. A girl.
The nurse smiled: “Congratulations, you have a miracle! A healthy girl.”
And I have only one thing in my head: he will kick me out. He wasn’t joking.
A few hours later he came into the room. I hugged my daughter to me and, without looking at him, whispered:
“It’s a girl. If you want, go away. We’ll manage.”
He didn’t answer. He just stood by the door, looking at us. And then… he slowly approached and pulled an envelope out of his inside pocket.
“You’re wrong,” he said quietly. “I didn’t mean to throw you out. It was… a test.
I watched in horror as he placed the envelope on the table.
“I wanted to be sure that you would choose the child over me. That you would not break your principles because of me. That you were strong. Now, open this.”
Inside was a deed to the house, registered in my name. And a letter:
“If you’re reading this, it means you chose to be a mother, no matter what. It means I was right about you. I’m sorry for the pain. Now it’s your turn to decide whether I’ll be a part of your life.”
I was silent for a long time. And then I simply said:
– You have a chance. One. Not for me – for her. Show her that you are worthy of being a father.
