Sophia walked into the office and said hello to her colleagues. They were discussing tearful soap operas and worrying about the main characters as if they were their relatives.
– There was something to discuss. Our maternity hospital has its own Brazilian soap operas,” Sofia said.
No one understood what she was referring to. Only five years later everyone remembered the day and the conversation.
The senior midwife of the maternity hospital was ill. Colleagues visited her regularly. They helped her around the house, brought her presents. Then one day Helena came over to cook dinner. She finished all her chores and was about to leave.
– “Helena, I have something to say,” said the midwife.
– What’s wrong?
– I understand that my hour is near, so I want to clear my conscience. I can’t – it torments me. One day we were celebrating an anniversary in the maternity hospital, and we started discussing whether the neonatologist remembers newborns. I took the tags off and brought in two babies. The doctor still couldn’t tell which was which. The worst part was that I forgot whose tag was whose, too. I didn’t have time to be discharged – I was just sick. So they mixed up the girls, and they’re from the same village. I do not know why I did not tell at once about it … Probably, I was afraid. But it’s been weighing on me all these years.
– Are you joking now?
– I wish… Let me give you these women’s contacts and you tell them the truth. This is my last request.
Such an unexpected revelation was hard to comprehend. How could the best nurse in the hospital do such a thing?
***
Sophia and Linda grew up with their parents and didn’t understand why they had nothing in common. Even their personalities were completely different. Sophia had a best friend who was also Sophia. She was her sister Linda’s peer; they had been born the same day.
They often visited each other and celebrated holidays. They had so much in common, not even Sofia’s own sister. The years passed. Their friendship grew stronger. But soon Sofia’s friend went to Italy to earn money, because she could not find a normal job in the village.
***
The nurses celebrated all the holidays together. Sofia was the life of the party. She was just telling another joke when Sofia, her friend, walked into the nurses’ lounge.
– What a meeting. What brings you here? – Sophia shouted.
– I wanted to check on you. Here’s a present for you,” she smiled.
While they were talking Helena came over. She was staring at both Sophias, because she knew why they were so much alike.
– You’re like sisters, – said one of the nurses.
– Yeah, like two peas in a pod,” said the other.
– And there’s nothing to be surprised about… Sophia, we need to talk, there’s serious talk,” Helena said.
***
The next day everything secret was going to come out. Sophia was convinced that the doctor was confused about something. How could her mother not have guessed? Didn’t she realize she was raising someone else’s child? And what fate had brought two sisters together, two sisters in law.
***
The conversation was hard. Helena told her everything in detail. Then Sofia said:
– “I’ll tell my friend, but Linda probably doesn’t want to know the truth. And she would not believe it.
– It’s up to you. I promised my aunt that I would tell her. I’ve accomplished my mission. I don’t know how I did it. I should have dotted the I’s a long time ago.
***
– Sofia, did you know that you and I are sisters? Mania told me. They switched you with me, – the younger Sofia started the conversation.
– I know. I was just about to tell you…
They talked all night. They reminisced about their childhood, their adolescence, their youth. Despite the fact that all the secrets had come out, they decided not to tell anyone about it. Not a word was uttered.
