“You will give birth to twins on your birthday…”

She stared at her reflection in the window—pale face, tired eyes—and wondered why it had to happen now. Why to her. Why after so much pain.

— You’ve been very quiet, — István noticed, gently taking her hand. — Are you okay?

— Yes… I’m just tired, — she replied, even though she knew it wasn’t true.

Inside, she felt restless and uneasy.

In the countryside, they were welcomed warmly. István’s parents had prepared a large dinner, and neighbors stopped by to talk, laugh, and ask about their plans.

Erika stayed mostly silent.

Every mention of children felt like a sharp stab to her heart.

That night, she couldn’t sleep. Memories returned with painful clarity.

She quietly got up and walked to the window. The moon shone over the fields.

— If this was a sign… give me the strength to believe in it, — she whispered.

A few weeks later, Erika began to notice changes in her body. Constant fatigue, morning sickness, and a strong sensitivity to smells.

At first, she ignored them.

— It’s just stress… nothing more, — she told herself.

But one morning in the bathroom, she froze.

Two clear lines.

Bright and undeniable.

— This can’t be real… — she whispered.

She sat down and cried. Not only from fear, but from a mix of old pain and fragile hope.

When she told István, he was silent for a long moment.

— Are you sure? — he asked in disbelief.

Then he wrapped his arms around her.

— This time, everything will be different. We’ll get through it together.

The pregnancy was filled with anxiety. Every medical appointment brought back memories of the past.

But the test results were reassuring.

During the second ultrasound, the doctor paused for a moment.

— Is something wrong? — Erika asked nervously.

The doctor smiled.

— On the contrary. You’re expecting twins.

Her world seemed to stop.

She immediately remembered the strange woman’s words.

István squeezed her hand.

— It’s a miracle…

Her birthday was approaching.

And that night, labor began.

An ambulance. Sirens. Cold hospital corridors. Pain.

— Breathe… stay strong… — the doctors encouraged her.

Then came the first cry.

And then another.

— A boy and a girl, — the midwife announced with a smile.

Erika burst into tears.

Tears of happiness. Relief. New beginnings.

A few days later, Erika sat by the hospital window with her babies in her arms.

In the courtyard, she noticed a familiar figure.

The woman.

She was smiling.

And then she disappeared.

Forever.

Erika closed her eyes.

She understood that some encounters change a life forever.