Stripped into Destiny

e roared like a

dles trying to pierce through the glass. Inside, the halls of Rosewood private hospital wer

d in the mat

zy. It was the worst night of the year-two power outages, two ambulance crash

, two women were labori

gsley. Her room was scented with vanilla oil and managed by three

She arrived soaked, panting from the bus, cradling her belly like it might shatter. A midwi

rn exactly six

t a soft, almost melodic cry as sh

ived after a long, breathless silence. She came

e power died

usion, the backup gener

hoed down

the fla

r to ano

ese bab

as on her fourth double-shift, hair in a sweaty bun, fingers trembling with exhaustion. Someone handed her both babies-one wrapped in silk, the

s, cursed the failing pe

Theresa

l worker had given to Maria's baby mome

ghtning, Jolene dropped one label. She snatched

oticed t

-

the storm

sense of uneasy calm spread across the hosp

he baby's sleepy eyes. "She's beautiful, isn't she, David?"

nd child, his eyes misting

Her hands were rough, her eyes sunken with exhaustion. The child was quieter now

d, cradling her daughter close. "No

reviewed, and no social worker follow-up. She l

-

ars La

m apartment in the city outskirts. In a corner room filled with taped-up

t. Too smart

a puzzle. Her skin was slightly lighter than her mother's, her no

anything like yo

her father," Maria alwa

pected anything... but because deep down, she

h. She was always helping. Al

-

ious leather armchair in a gold-accented roo

nd daring-always at the center of attention. But she had troub

play. She hated ballet. Her room was fill

reamed of fire. Of

e whispering, "

-

lene sat at her desk, flipping

ently turne

uilt didn

photo from the night of the storm. Two bab

ead T.K. The othe

ood ra

caught in

made a

whispered to herself, han

-

anonymous letter to the Kingsleys, c

raised the

od reports. L

of the hospital records a

-

etter was received and prompt

ty is a pow

k of resemblance and deep disconnect, decided to call for a p

ould arrive i

had already be

-

dow, watching the rainfall in the sa

nted the drops-not knowing ea

at someone else wa

ays does, was about

Gettin