Carmella's heart felt as if it was caving to her very feet. Her breath was knocked from her body and she sank to the couch—had it not been there she would have landed on the floor. She kept thinking, my son is going to grow old and die right before my eyes…
"Mommy!" Raj wailed, his lip quivering. Feeling as if she was in a daze, Carmella pulled herself back to her feet and took her child in her arms. She held him tightly smothering him with kisses, and he held onto her equally as tight. He somehow knew that she was distressed and it distressed him.
Bilal's skin was slowly taking on a black undertone. He pushed back his long hair as he concentrated on his son. He reached out a hand and stroked his curls. Love for his child nearly overwhelmed him. Carmella watched, looking to him for the
