Daniel gently placed a hand on her shoulder—firm enough to stop her from moving toward Room 304, where bursts of laughter and cheerful voices spilled into the hallway.
“Mom… wait,” he murmured, eyes flicking toward the closed door.
“This is hard. Victoria had a difficult labor. She’s emotional. And… she wants only her immediate family inside with her right now.”
Rosa blinked, confused.
“But I am family, Daniel. I’m the grandmother. I traveled twelve hours. I just want to see the baby for one minute… give him the blanket… then I’ll go.”
Daniel lowered his head.
“Her parents and sisters are already in there. She says she feels more comfortable with them.”
He hesitated. His voice broke.
“Please don’t make this harder, Mom. The truth is… Victoria never wanted you here. She says you… make her nervous.”
The world stopped.
The laughter behind the closed door felt like a slap.
Rosa’s fingers tightened around the cloth bag as an icy chill ran down her spine.
Yet she didn’t cry.
She simply nodded, turned away with all the dignity she could gather, and whispered:
“I understand.”
Then she walked out of the hospital and made the long journey home in absolute silence.
