My Mother-in-Law Swapped My Baby with a Dead Child in the Hospital

 My Mother-in-Law Swapped My Baby with a Dead Child in the Hospital

Episode 1

Written By Jerry Smith.

Amaka felt a flood of relief as the baby's cries filled the hospital room. Sweat glistened on her forehead, her chest rising and falling in exhaustion, but her heart swelled with love. She had waited nine long months for this moment, and now, she held her baby boy in her arms. His tiny fingers curled around hers, his soft skin warm against her palm.

"He's perfect," she whispered, tears pooling in her eyes.

The nurse smiled as she adjusted the sheets around Amaka. "Congratulations, madam. You have a strong, healthy baby boy."

Amaka turned to her husband, Emeka, who stood frozen at the bedside, staring at their child with an unreadable expression. He seemed overwhelmed, his lips parting as if to say something, but no words came out. Finally, he cleared his throat and touched the baby’s head gently.

"He's beautiful," Emeka murmured. "Just like you."

Amaka's lips trembled with emotion. She had feared this day for so long, worried about complications, worried about being a mother. But now, holding her baby in her arms, she felt nothing but love.

Madam Agatha, her mother-in-law, entered the room then, her eyes sharp as they landed on the newborn. A tight smile stretched across her face. "Thank God for a safe delivery," she said, though her tone lacked warmth.

Amaka nodded, too tired to analyze the woman's reaction. The exhaustion weighed heavily on her. She tried to keep her eyes open, but sleep clawed at her mind.

"I think I need to rest," she murmured, looking up at Emeka.

"Of course," he said, brushing her forehead with a soft kiss. "Rest, my love. I'll stay with the baby."

With that assurance, Amaka allowed her heavy eyelids to shut, surrendering to sleep.

She didn’t know how long she had been asleep when she awoke to the sound of hushed voices. Her body felt weak, her limbs leaden as she struggled to focus. The room was dim, and she felt a strange heaviness in the air.

Then she noticed the empty bassinet.

Her heart pounded. "Where’s my baby?" Her voice came out hoarse and panicked.

The nurse standing nearby flinched. "Madam, please, you need to stay calm—"

"Where is my child?" Amaka’s voice cracked as she forced herself to sit up. She felt dizzy, but fear pushed her forward.

Emeka rushed to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Amaka, listen to me—"

Something in his voice made her stomach drop. "No," she whispered. "No, tell me it’s not what I’m thinking."

Madam Agatha stepped forward, her expression blank. "The child… did not survive."

Amaka's world shattered.

"What?" Her breath came in short, painful gasps. "No, no, that’s not possible. He was fine! I held him—he was alive!"

The nurse's gaze darted away, and Emeka squeezed his eyes shut as if in pain.

Madam Agatha's voice remained calm, almost too calm. "It was God’s will. You must accept it and move on."

Amaka shook her head violently. "No! I want to see my baby! Where is he?"

Madam Agatha sighed, turning to Emeka. "She’s weak. She shouldn’t be stressing herself over this."

"Where is my child?" Amaka demanded again, ignoring the throbbing in her head.

Emeka looked at her helplessly. "Mama said it's best to bury him immediately. Holding onto the pain will only hurt you more."

Amaka’s mouth fell open. "You buried my child… without me?"

"It was for the best," Madam Agatha said firmly. "You were unconscious. There was no need to drag things out."

"No, no, no!" Amaka sobbed. "You had no right! He was my baby!"

Emeka swallowed hard. "Amaka, please—"

She turned to the nurse. "Tell me the truth! What happened to my son?"

The nurse hesitated, her lips pressing together as if suppressing something.

"Speak!" Amaka cried.

Madam Agatha's sharp gaze landed on the nurse. "Enough of this. The doctor confirmed it. Your baby is gone. Now, you must rest and recover."

Amaka’s chest heaved with grief. A deep, unshakable feeling of dread crawled into her bones. Something wasn’t right. But she was too weak to fight. Too weak to argue.

She sank back onto the bed, her body trembling.

Her child was gone.

And something told her this wasn’t the truth.

To Be Continue...