Maddie POV
The environment was oppressive. We were sitting in uncomfortable chairs, but the biggest discomfort was the fear for my mother's health. My heart felt like it was stuck in a constant grip as the intensive care door remained closed, with no word from my mother. Me, Dereck, Stephen, Sandy, and Averie were silent as we each prayed within ourselves so that the worst wouldn't happen. Dereck sitting next to me handed me a cup of coffee, but the heat of the liquid did nothing to warm me up from the cold that grew inside me.
“It's going to be okay, Maddie," he said, his voice soft but firm. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer. "Your mom is strong. She'll get out of this."
I mumbled a barely audible “thank you” but couldn't take a sip of the coffee. Everything i
