"Mom, why didn't you want me?"
Marie woke up, shivering at the toddler's question.
The doctor's deep voice still rang in her ears, "I strongly suspect your child may have Down syndrome."
A few days later, she saw a small replica of her daughter strolling behind her at the park.
"Mom, why are you staring at space? Come on." cried her daughter, giving Marie a strange look.
Wherever they went, the lookalike followed, her eyes cast down and a smile at the corner of her lips. However, the child neither stepped into their house nor took part in their family activities.
Days passed and Marie's daughter got married. Marie looked back to see a third bridesmaid, a teenager, holding the bride's veil. The teenager jumped up and down, as if in great joy. Marie wondered why nobody else noticed the exuberant girl. But the teenager was nowhere to be seen during the wedding ceremony or the family dinner.
Her major responsibilities fulfilled, Marie leaned back in the couch, trying to find peace. She prayed to be reunited with her second child that never saw the world. Marie felt a bright glow seeping inside her closed eyes. A teenage boy stood at the entrance of her room, looking at her with sharp, intelligent eyes. "High-risk pregnancy" were the last words she remembered. Her heart ached as she saw her son in various stages of childhood and early teens. She tried to cry, but could not open her eyes. Some force held her to the couch, preventing her from moving.
At last, she felt a gentle touch. "Mom, let us go home."
Marie woke up, shivering at the toddler's question.
The doctor's deep voice still rang in her ears, "I strongly suspect your child may have Down syndrome."
A few days later, she saw a small replica of her daughter strolling behind her at the park.
"Mom, why are you staring at space? Come on." cried her daughter, giving Marie a strange look.
Wherever they went, the lookalike followed, her eyes cast down and a smile at the corner of her lips. However, the child neither stepped into their house nor took part in their family activities.
Days passed and Marie's daughter got married. Marie looked back to see a third bridesmaid, a teenager, holding the bride's veil. The teenager jumped up and down, as if in great joy. Marie wondered why nobody else noticed the exuberant girl. But the teenager was nowhere to be seen during the wedding ceremony or the family dinner.
Her major responsibilities fulfilled, Marie leaned back in the couch, trying to find peace. She prayed to be reunited with her second child that never saw the world. Marie felt a bright glow seeping inside her closed eyes. A teenage boy stood at the entrance of her room, looking at her with sharp, intelligent eyes. "High-risk pregnancy" were the last words she remembered. Her heart ached as she saw her son in various stages of childhood and early teens. She tried to cry, but could not open her eyes. Some force held her to the couch, preventing her from moving.
At last, she felt a gentle touch. "Mom, let us go home."
