Sofia ended the call, her thumb lingering on the screen for a long moment. Her chest felt tight, a messy tangle of fear, hope, and fierce determination swirling inside her. She pressed the phone to her heart for a second, eyes closed, breathing deeply to steady herself.
We’re not alone this time, she thought. None of us are.
Wiping the corners of her eyes, she slipped the phone back into her pocket and quietly opened the door to Lily’s room. The little girl looked up at her with those big, trusting eyes, and Sofia’s heart melted all over again. She forced a warm smile, even as her throat ached with emotion, and walked over to sit beside her.
Back at the hospital, Mara stared at her phone for what felt like forever. Her finger hovered over her parents’ number, a number she hadn’t dialed
