They took the second baby away before I could see its face.
A few minutes later, a doctor returned and told me that I had not survived.
I cried until I was exhausted.
For years, I carried the weight of that little girl’s pain, whom I was never able to hug.
Valentina became my reason for living.
She worked as a waitress during the day and studied at night. While she slept, she made bracelets, bags, and small accessories that she sold online. At first, she only received one or two orders a week.
Then, a photo of my handmade jewelry went viral.
We started receiving orders from all over the country. I hired two women to help me. Then, ten. A small online store became a brand, and the brand became an international company.
Six years later, we bought our first house .
Ten years later, he owned stores all over Mexico.
At thirty-five, she was richer than that frightened little girl we had thrown out into the street could ever have imagined.
But success didn’t solve all the problems.
Each birthday reminded me that there should have been two girls by my side.
And every time I looked at Valentina, I wondered what her twin sister would be like.
Twenty years after my parents rejected me, I decided to return.
She thought about going back to prove to them that she had survived without them. She wanted them to see the woman they had abandoned.
I arrived in a black Mercedes and stopped in front of the house where I spent my childhood.
The house seemed smaller than I remembered. The door was rusty, the walls cracked, and weeds had taken over the yard where I used to play.
I approached the front door and knocked.
A young woman opened the door.
For a few seconds, we remained silent.
She looked like she’d had a stroke.
She had my eyes, my cheekbones, and the same little mark above her left eyebrow that Valentina has had since she was born.
My heart started beating uncontrollably.
“Who are you looking for?” she asked.
Before I could answer, my parents appeared behind her.
My mother covered her mouth.
My father was furious.
I looked at them and gave a cold smile.
Do you regret leaving me?
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