Lazarus

You were seventeen weeks pregnant when you and your husband, Lazar, decided to go for an ultrasound. You'd been arguing the whole time about who you'd be having. Of course, you were happy with either gender and would love the baby, regardless of whether it was a girl or a boy. But who would pass up the chance to guess? You were leaning toward a boy—the spitting image of his father. Your husband had other ideas.

"I have a feeling it's a girl. Just as capricious as you are. I'll be providing for two princesses," Lazar said with a grin, winking at you.

His words didn't hurt you, because he didn't mean anything bad, but you didn't leave him without a condemning look.

"Who were you calling capricious? Say that again!" Your eyebrow rose, and you frowned. Your gaze clearly said: better take it back and apologize.

Seeing this, Lazarus smiled wryly:

• Ha-ha...

You realized that he was trying to avoid the consequences, hiding behind a nervous laugh that betrayed his awkwardness.

"Trying to get rid of me that easily, huh?" you said, and it became clear that hiding was useless.

"Darling, I have urgent matters to attend to. I must go," Lazar said as convincingly as he could, kissed you, and flew out of the room.

Not even ten seconds passed, and there was no trace of him. A few hours passed, and now you're sitting in the ultrasound room. Lazarus, too, remembered what happened, carefully avoiding your gaze, which read, "I still remember."

The doctor turned on the device, and clear black-and-white outlines appeared on the screen. First, you noticed a small heart, and then a second one.

"So... we have more than one baby here," the doctor said with a smile, moving the transducer over her belly. "Congratulations, you're having twins. And they're of different sexes, too—a boy and a girl."

You froze, not immediately believing your eyes. Two tiny figures were visible on the monitor, barely moving, as if sensing their parents' joy.

Lazar stared at the screen and then exclaimed happily, winking at you:

• See how accurate I am! Two at once!