My 74-year-old father invited me to dinner and offered me a drink. I accepted, but the next morning I woke up feeling terribly ill and went to the hospital. When the doctor saw my blood test results, his expression suddenly changed. He asked, “Have you suspected lately that you might be pregnant?”

Tears began to roll down her cheeks.

—I thought: what if one day I forget all the things I should have told you?

I extended my hand on the table.

—And photography?

She gave a small, trembling smile.

—I wanted to have a picture of us together while I could still remember every detail of that night.

I felt like my heart was breaking.

Then he confessed something else to me.

—The note that was next to the photograph was for your husband. I asked him to take care of you if one day I could no longer do so.

I started crying even more.

All those terrible thoughts I had had about my father suddenly seemed unbearable.

—Dad, I thought that…

I gently pressed my hand.

— Did you think something bad had happened?

I nodded.

I approached him.

—Honey, I'm sorry I scared you. I should have told you the truth instead of speaking in riddles.

I hugged him tighter.