The hospital was only a few minutes away, and by the time they reached Maud’s room, she was already stabilised, asleep under a tangle of wires and quiet beeping machines. A doctor started explaining the potential seriousness of the stroke to Renee, but her brain shut down the moment she saw her mother’s fragile body in the bed. She didn’t hear a word after that. She just stared at him, checked out, feeling numb and sick to her stomach.
When the doctor finished, Renee moved to sit by her mother’s side. Her father stayed outside the room, watching through the window, giving her space but not leaving her alone.
Renee took her mother’s hand gently and held it between both of hers.
“Mom,” she whispered with a shaky voice, “I love you so much. It’s not fair that you’re the one suffering. One
