Eight months pregnant, I was cleaning when I brushed past my mother-in-law. She cursed me, slapped me, and dumped filthy mop water. I slipped, fell, my water broke—the instant I knew everything would change.

One afternoon, while Javier was still at work, I was mopping the kitchen floor. I felt dizzy and weak, and my movements were slower than usual. As I stepped back, I slipped slightly on the wet tiles and lost my balance. I fell hard onto my side.

The pain in my abdomen was immediate and frightening. I tried to stand, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. Then I felt a warm sensation and realized something was wrong—my water had broken.
At that moment, the front door opened. Javier had just arrived home. He froze when he saw me on the floor, pale and shaking, while his mother stood nearby, unsure of what to do.

Javier rushed to me immediately, panic written all over his face. I could barely speak, but he understood that this wasn’t normal. He called emergency services and stayed beside me, holding my hand and trying to keep me calm. Carmen remained silent, clearly shaken by what was happening.

At the hospital, doctors confirmed that I was going into premature labor. They explained that physical exhaustion combined with prolonged emotional stress can take a serious toll during pregnancy. I was taken in for urgent care.