Maria, a young bride who has been married for less than two months. Anyone who looks at her thinks her life is full of happiness. Every morning, when the sunlight shines in from the window, Maria diligently changes the bed sheets, neatly folding each corner of the blanket as if it were a mandatory ritual.

Her husband – Ramon – sometimes wonders:
– “Do you need to change them every day? It’s just the two of us, not a hotel.”

Maria smiles, avoiding:
– “I’m used to it, it feels uncomfortable if I don’t change it.”

Ramon thinks his wife is just a perfectionist, so he doesn’t ask any more. In fact, he also likes to lie on new sheets that smell of sunshine.

In everyone’s eyes, Maria is a skillful daughter-in-law: she cooks well, is neat, and is polite. Aling Rosa – her mother-in-law – often praises her daughter-in-law, but still wonders: why do the bed sheets in the couple’s room wear out so quickly?

A surprising moment

One afternoon, Ramon hadn’t returned from work yet, and Maria also went to the market. Aling Rosa went upstairs to get the sweater from the closet. She was surprised to see her son’s bed neat, the sheets white and flat.

But under the light, she noticed an unusually faint trace under the sheet. Curious, she gently lifted a corner of the sheet…

At that moment, she was stunned.

Under the pristine white sheet, the mattress was covered with old and new blood stains. Some were dark brown, some were bright red.

Her heart was pounding. A series of questions came to her: Why was there blood? What disease did Maria have?

The truth was revealed

During dinner, Aling Rosa silently observed. Maria looked pale, occasionally frowning when she sat down, but still smiled, picking up food for her husband.

The next morning, when Ramon went to work, she called her daughter-in-law to the kitchen:
– “Maria, I’m asking you seriously, is there something you’re hiding from me?”

Maria was startled for a moment, then choked up, her eyes filled with tears:
– “Mom… I’m sorry. I had a gynecological disease before we got married. The doctor said my uterus was weak, and I often had abnormal bleeding. I was afraid Ramon would be sad, afraid my parents would worry, so I quietly changed the sheets and washed clothes to cover it up…”

Aling Rosa was stunned. For many days, she thought her daughter-in-law was a perfectionist, but it turned out to be an illness.

– “Son, why didn’t you tell me earlier? Illnesses need to be treated, hiding them will only make you suffer more.”

– “I’m afraid it will affect the birth of children, afraid Ramon will be disappointed…” – Maria cried and trembled.

Mrs. Rosa hugged her daughter-in-law’s arm:
– “I will take you to a big hospital in Manila. Ramon should know about this too, a couple can’t let one person bear it.”

Facing the truth

That afternoon, when Ramon came home, Mrs. Rosa called them both in. She told them everything.

Ramon was shocked at first, then held his wife’s hand tightly:
– “Why are you suffering alone? I am your husband, you have to tell me.”

Maria bowed her head, her voice trembling:
– “I’m afraid you will be disappointed, afraid you will think I am not good enough…”

Ramon hugged his wife tightly, resolute:
– “You are so stupid! I married you because I love you, not because of those things. If you are sick, I will treat it. I will go with you.”

Maria burst into tears, as if a burden had been lifted.

Treatment journey

A few days later, Aling Rosa took her daughter-in-law to a large hospital in Manila. The diagnosis: Maria had a serious endocrine disorder, causing abnormal uterine bleeding. If not treated promptly, the risk of complications is high, even affecting the ability to give birth.

This news was like a knife, but thanks to her husband and mother-in-law by her side, Maria was no longer alone. The doctor gave a long-term treatment plan, combining medication and rest.

From that day on, Maria no longer had to change her sheets every day to hide her secret. Instead, there were visits to the doctor and nutritious meals prepared by Aling Rosa herself.

– “You have to eat a lot, rest a lot. Let me take care of the housework. The most important thing is your health.” – she kindly instructed.

Maria cried, feeling lucky to have an understanding husband’s family. Ramon also changed, taking care of his wife more, not letting her suffer in silence.

End

Once, Ramon joked while doing the laundry with his wife:
– “From now on, I will help you wash the sheets, but probably not every day anymore.”

Maria laughed through her tears.

The story that seemed to start with a terrible secret ended with understanding and love. Maria learned that: in the family, the truth can be difficult to tell, but only the truth can pave the way for true sympathy and love

After being diagnosed with endocrine disorders and abnormal uterine bleeding, Maria began a long treatment regimen. She had to take medication regularly, combined with rest, and go to Manila every month for check-ups.

Ramon was always there, never leaving his wife’s side. He was willing to take time off work to take Maria to the hospital, holding her hand in each lab. But outside, the family’s public opinion storm began to rise again.

At a family party, when Maria and Ramon had just entered, an aunt said half-jokingly:

“It’s been almost a year and your stomach is still flat. When will we be able to hold our grandchild?”

Another uncle laughed out loud:

“A son is very important, Ramon. Our family needs a grandson.”

Maria stiffened, her face pale. Ramon quickly held his wife’s hand, but his heart was also choked up. The scrutinizing gazes from relatives were like knives piercing deep into both of their hearts.

That night, Maria burst into tears in her room:
– “I’m sorry, Ramon. Because of my illness, you’re under pressure. If… if you want to find someone else to have a child with, I won’t blame you.”

Ramon was shocked and hugged his wife tightly:
– “Maria, don’t say that! I married you because I love you, not to listen to my relatives. I don’t need a child to prove my love.”

But those strong words didn’t dispel all of Maria’s insecurities. Every time she met her relatives, she was afraid, wondering if she was taking away the pride of her entire family.

One day, Isabel – Ramon’s cousin – returned from the US, bringing news of a famous infertility specialist in Makati. Isabel accidentally said in front of the whole family:
– “If it doesn’t work, you two can consider using a surrogate. This is very common abroad.”

Those words seemed to add fuel to the fire. Some relatives nodded in agreement, some even whispered:
– “If Maria can’t give birth, Ramon should find another way. The family needs blood to continue.”

Maria heard, her heart was broken. That night, she quietly packed her luggage, intending to leave for her mother’s house in the province. But Ramon stopped her in time, tears falling on his strong face:
– “Maria, don’t leave me. We will fight together. No one has the right to decide our lives except ourselves.”

Thanks to persistent treatment, Maria’s health gradually improved. The doctor announced:
– “Your body has responded quite well to the medicine. Although it is not certain, the chance of becoming a mother is still there.”

Maria burst into tears in Ramon’s arms. But her joy was not yet complete when outside, rumors still surrounded her. Relatives urged, friends gossiped, society was strict – all pushed the couple into a harsh test.

One evening, as Maria sat before the altar, she whispered a prayer:
– “Lord, please give me the strength. Whether I have a child or not, I just want to keep this love.”

Ramon walked over and knelt beside his wife:
– “Maria, believe. Even if the whole world turns its back on me, I will still stand by you.”

Outside, the church bells rang, signaling a new chapter – where love must face prejudice, but also where the strength of family will be tested to the very end