Chapter 5

The wail of the ambulance siren faded into the distance.

I held my mother's hand in the back of the rig.

It was ice-cold, her nail beds tinged with purple.

"Mom, hold on."

She didn't answer. Her eyes were shut tight, her breathing shallow beneath the oxygen mask.

At the hospital, the doctors rushed her straight into the ER.

The moment the double doors swung shut, my legs gave out. I collapsed onto a plastic waiting room chair.

Ten minutes later, Vivian burst through the lobby doors.

She was sweating, her eyes red, as she threw herself in front of…