"That won’t work for me. Why should I care if she’s not mine?"
Next to him his girlfriend, Camilla, handed him a glass of wine. Mateo took it and downed it in one gulp. He did it right in front of me. It was a deliberate act of mockery.
My heart shattered. They were cut from the same cloth, this family of mine. I knew my cousin and aunt never had any kindness toward me, so I could only turn to my mom as my last hope.
My mom was a nurse in the county hospital when she was young and she must have the contact information of the county hospital in her hand.
"Mom, call the hospital! You must have their number! Get them to send an ambulance!"
She stared at the blood on my shirt, frozen for half a minute. Then, at last, she pulled out her phone.
For the first time that night, I felt a sliver of relief. At least my daughter would be saved.
However, a hand snatched the phone away in a flash from my mother's hand. It was my aunt and at that moment, a chill ran down my spine.
My aunt locked the screen, waved dismissively and scolded my mother, "Sister, it’s not that I'm forbidding you but calling nine-one-one on The Day of the Dead Festival? What kind of nonsense is that?"
Her eyes darted at me and they were glaring at me. My body trembled uncontrollably and my teeth were clattering because of nervousness.
"Besides," she continued, "do you know what today is? Do you know what kind of destiny Mateo has? If an ambulance comes to the house, bringing in all that hospital bad luck, what if it ruins his future?"
Everyone froze. My aunt successfully made them feel terrified with her superstitious words. They did not dare to do anything.
My aunt smirked triumphantly. The same way she always did after convincing my mother to do something ‘for my own good’.
She had already ruined my life, but I would not let her ruin my daughter’s. Absolutely not!
While she was still gloating, I lunged forward and ripped the phone from her hands. I immediately dialed the county hospital.
Behind me, my aunt screamed in rage, pounded my back with her fists and cursed me over and over again. I just ignored her.
