Chapter 6

I pressed the red call button by my hospital bed. Then, I picked up my phone and dialed my mother.

"Mom," I said. My voice was completely flat. "I'm in the hospital. I almost lost the baby."

"I'm on my way," she said instantly. There was no gasping. There were no frantic questions. Just steady, absolute strength.

Within hours, she walked into my hospital room. She smelled faintly of lavender and vanilla. The familiar scent immediately grounded me. She didn't cry when she saw my pale face. She just kissed my forehead, brushed my hair back, and started packing my…