The old, even ancient nurse explained phlegmatically:

– The doctor has already done everything he can. Your son will feel better soon. There are no free rooms, thank you that there are still beds. If you don’t like it, go to a paid one…

But the man only boiled even more from her admonitions. And when the nurse ran away, citing medical matters, he turned his anger on Nadya: she managed to ask him if she and her son had any extra panties. Varya wet herself again.

– No, this is simply outrageous! – the stranger growled. – Shame on you! You are a mother! Couldn't you take your panties with you to the hospital? “He noticed that the wet pants that Nadya pulled off Varya and hung on the iron headboard of the bed were also boy’s pants. – Oh, you are one of those crazy mothers who give birth to children one after another and immediately forget about the previous ones!

Nadya’s cheeks flushed with inappropriate shame and resentment, but she was afraid to argue with the angry man and simply remained silent. She covered Varya with a blanket and ran to the nurse, hoping that the angry dad would not attack the sleeping girl. The nurse only gave me clean bedding – she didn’t have any children’s clothes.

Somehow, with great difficulty, Nadya rearranged the sheet right under the sleeping child – it seems that even a gun wouldn’t wake Varya right now. The gloomy type continued to walk around the ward in a coat over a tracksuit. His son was still lying on his cot, curled up and howling softly.

Having finished with Varya, Nadya took two cautious steps towards the boy. We need to help the child somehow! This evil parent clearly doesn’t know what a suffering child needs… Rounding the man in a large arc, Nadya went to the bed by the window and sat down on the edge at the boy’s feet. It turned out to be a teenager. His face was contorted in a grimace of pain, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, he was breathing quickly and shallowly. Nadya carefully stroked the boy's disheveled hair. At first he froze as if in fright, but then he looked at Nadya, and the edge of his lips barely noticeably twitched in the semblance of a grateful smile. Nadya grew bolder, stroked the young man’s shoulder and side, moved to his back, and returned to his head. The boy seemed to close his eyes with some relief and let out a long breath. A little more – and his legs stretched down and his arms relaxed. The painkiller must have worked. A few minutes after Nadya’s manipulations began, the boy began to breathe more calmly and seemed to fall asleep.

She stood up and came across a man's gaze. Attentive, unblinking… fascinated? The teenager's father looked at her without looking away, standing motionless in the middle of the room. All the anger disappeared from him, surprise splashed in his eyes, as if he had witnessed a miracle. From the corner of her mind, Nadya noted that he was quite young for the parent of such an adult child, but why should she care? Not wanting to explain herself to the rude man, Nadya picked up her coat thrown on a chair and ran out of the room.

The nurse said that in the morning the department opens for visits only at nine – there is no way she can get there before classes. Nadya decided that she would call the center at seven and explain everything – let the missing mother visit her daughter herself.

I had to call a taxi again because the buses no longer run at this time. Too expensive for her modest salary as a primary school teacher!

It’s strange, but all the way Nadya’s inner gaze saw a confused young male face. Not exactly beautiful, but pleasant, with regular and clear features. And a smart look. She fell asleep thinking about him, and in a dream she saw herself arguing with a stranger, explaining to him that Varya was not her daughter, that she had absolutely no girl’s things and that she was completely unprepared for this nighttime hospital escapade…