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My mother was fading right in front of me, no matter how hard she tried to act strong. Her smile was fragile, her skin as pale as the washed-out hospital sheets. And her eyes... the light in them was gone. She w
y ribs, not absorbing a single word I read. At eight months pregnant, the sheer weight of the triplets was agonizing. Every step was a battle, every movement a harsh reminder t
ed. The phone rang in the dark, the sh
d was deep and exhausted. "You need to
red. I didn't bother with a coat or proper shoes. I just ran. The night air bit at my s
it me like a bolt of lightning, doubling me over. Hold on, little ones, I prayed, pressing my hands against my stomach as the p
er skin was nearly translucent. Her breathing had become an agonizing ratt
with a tenderness that tore me apart. "Promi
t, dropping to my knees besi
d you'll get your life back. Don't stay alone
at seemed impossible for her frail body
assive lump stuck in my throa
don't leave me," I whisp
t like she used to when I was a
rely audible whisper. "Look through my things... you
riddle, but there was no time to ask what she meant. Her e
the heart mo
it sl
d into an endless
hin
even though I alread
into my memory before they took her away forever. The grief hit me like a tidal wave, drowning me in an unbearable empti
pun out of focus. I clutched my stomach as the pain spiked, wa
was when
e Va
the wall, comp
pin
his armor. His face was contorted, his eyes bloodshot. His hands were tangled in his hair as if h
, ignoring the tight cr
at... what happen
p. His eyes were holl
orn. Suddenly, he exploded, slamming his
olently, his entire body convul
t the brakes. She... she died
ck. I couldn't catch my breath. Another contraction seized m
d, covering my mo
block out the nightmare, then let out a
venomous grief. He punched the wall again, the sickening thud ringing out. "She didn't w
t the overwhelming pain quickl
dead. Dead be
his expression instantly shifted. It harden
g finger at me, his face contorted by a toxic mix of guilt and rage. "If we hadn't insisted! If
l blow radiated straight down to my belly as another contraction
managed to gasp, my voice shaking, tear
s children. He only saw a living reminder of his
! The full contract. Double! Whatever you want! But I don't want those kids. I can't! Not... no
abdomen flared. The contractions were coming in rapid waves now; t
completely broken, doubling over as ano
, his fists clenching until his knuckles turned stark white.
sterile hallway. He left me completely alone in the emptiness
A deposit. Double the contract amount. Triple. It w
ould feel the storm raging outside. The agony of labor forced me to brace myself against the wall. I was
t lost my
just lost
tle babies... had j
y arms. Tears soaked into the taut fabric of my shirt as ano
by sobs and physical agony. "Not like me... not like him... not li
me: they were the only family I had left. They were the only thing giving
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