Mia
My body moves before my brain can catch up. My heart is pounding so hard it feels like it might split my ribs open. No one would tell me anything on the phone, but I know—something is wrong. I can feel it in my bones.
The hospital hallway is eerily quiet. Too quiet. The nurse behind the desk smiles at me like this is just another normal shift, and I hate her for it. I don’t smile back.
Brad stands behind me, his hand resting on my lower back like an anchor. I grip the desk so hard my fingers ache.
“I got a call about my mother,” I say, my voice tight. “Lily Willow. Is she okay?”
The nurse starts typing. That’s when Mandy comes around the corner.
Our eyes lock. She’s calm—too calm—but that’s her job. She’s trained not to crack. I am not.
“What’s going on, Mandy?” I demand.
She p
