The cry was forced out of my throat—raw, involuntary.
It was filled with terror and despair, as if I’d been dragged back into those cold, sunless years all over again.
My body writhed on the bed, struggling uncontrollably. I was like someone drowning, desperately reaching for anything to hold onto.
Suddenly—
A warm, steady hand landed on my back.
Gently.
Slowly.
Rhythmically.
With a kind of warmth that made you want to lean into it without thinking.
Then a soft, husky voice brushed against my ear:
“Don’t be scared, don’t be scared… I’m right here… Mommy’s here…”
The voice felt like a miracle.
Like someone reaching into the dark and pulling me toward the light.
Instinctively, I leaned toward that warmth.
The tight knot between my brows loosened little by little, and my cries g
