Mine by Default

— I don’t understand… Can you speak Russian? What exactly happened?

— I’m telling you! During the procedure of in vitro fertilization, a malfunction occurred.

I wince. I don’t like going back to this story. I still don’t, even though it’s been almost three years since my wife and our unborn child died.

— My wife got pregnant successfully, — I say coldly, reminding her. — What malfunction are you talking about?

— You see, during the IVF procedure, by mistake, not your… um… biological material was used.

— I see. And what happened to my biological material? — I strain out through clenched teeth.

— It was used too. By mistake…

— So you’re claiming that some woman I don’t even know gave birth to my child? Two damned years ago?!

— No! But very soon she will give birth…