Gone with the Mist

Synopsis

Wendy Mason never imagined that on her own birthday, her son would hand her a chestnut cake—something that could send her into anaphylactic shock strong enough to kill. As her consciousness blurred, she heard Maxwell Woods’ enraged voice cutting through the haze. “Arthur Woods! Don’t you know your mother is allergic to chestnuts?” Her son’s young, innocent voice rang out, crystal clear. “I know. But I wish Aunt Chloe were my mom.” “You want that too, don’t you, Dad?” "Even if I did... " A suffocating wave crashed over her, drowning out the rest of Maxwell's reply. The very last thought before she passed out was simple, sharp, and cold: If she woke up, she would no longer be Maxwell's wife, nor Arthur's mother. After five hours in the emergency room, her life was no longer in danger. When she finally regained consciousness, every breath burned, her face grotesquely swollen. She forced her eyes open, instinctively searching for two familiar silhouettes—only to find the room empty. Her phone lay on the bedside cabinet. She tried to lift her arm, but it was too far. Just as she strained to sit up, a nurse entered to change her IV and quickly stopped her. "You've just come out of the ER. You can't move around. I'll get it for you." The nurse handed her the phone and fussed while adjusting the drip. "Did you