The Worn-Out Photo Album

Some people come into your life and change its entire course.

After Eulalia got out of the car, she took out the ultrasound report that she had been keeping in her bag. She looked at the tiny shadow inside the ultrasound image, still finding it hard to believe that there was a little life growing inside her.

Eulalia gently touched her belly, then let out a bitter smile. She crumpled up the pregnancy test in her hand and tossed it into a trash can.

By the time Eulalia got home, it was already late, almost six o’clock. But it was summer, and the sun set late, so she didn’t feel it was that late.

Percival had come home early and hadn’t seen Eulalia. He asked Mabel and remembered that Eulalia had gone to the orphanage today. He kept checking the time, growing increasingly restless. “It’s just a visit to the orphanage. Why is she taking so long?”

Suppressing the urge to call her, he waited another half hour before finally hearing the sound of the door unlocking.

Eulalia changed her shoes a