The Cradle of Imposters

rom the nursery monitor rippe

eized. Lit

rgotten, and sprinted up the gran

is room was s

hed i

ter, stood near his crib, a small, al

as blue. His tiny chest hitched

before from these sudden, terrifying episodes, lay on th

voice was a

one of wide-eyed, feigned innocence.

er to the inhaler,

as d

, scooping his limp

, fumbling for the inhaler, m

n't do anything! I jus

r father's, held no concern, only

d, her voice a piercing wail. "

and fled

ire being focused on Samuel, on trying

hundered up

nto the nursery, Chloe cli

on?" James demanded, his ey

Chloe choked out between theatrical sob

fted to me, to the tiny,

ck to show affection for Chloe, w

ed, his tone flat, devoid of t

s caught in my throat, choked by a rising tide

her, appeared in the doorway, her postur

her voice like chipped

e clutching Samuel, James

ssessing, lingered on

garet stated, her voice devoid of any warmth. "Perhaps it's a

me harder than

ess.

s presence, sniffled. "She's blaming

hair. "Of course you

d. "Emily, this is... unfortu

gh serious, heart defect. My son, whose life depen

ed about Chl

bsolute, flooded throug

hifted. A strange certainty, a primal

iculous diet, the carefully controlled environment, the sheer force of will I'd poured in

unnerving, intuitive certainty, tha

t James, my voice s

am

d up, im

ve you so

d. Margaret raised a pe

ng like ash and iron. "Strong sons. With per

r fake crying, h

d truly lost my mind. "Emil

vering. "A terrible, preventable accident. B

y! How can she guarantee anything

re clearly not thinking straight. Perhaps it's best if you... t

re, when I first found out about Samue

ring it again. F

muel's coolin

t this

and intense. "Give me one more chance. If