BENEATH HER ASHES

omson Poi

ou can hear today . " Rosaline's voice trembles with disbelief. "Emily.

in my temples, rage bubbling inside me like a volcano ready to erupt. I gr

ce barely audible over the

rmurs, her tone laced with sympathy. "E

ected back. My lipstick is smudged, my perfectly curled hair in disarray, and my e

his... fo

housands into that worthless surrogate, and I carried the lie of a fake pregnancy wi

or. The sound cracks through the

ing ? " I snarl. "How does

the wealth and the perfect family. That was supposed to b

ng the phone tightly. "It is ti

Delilah, if we go through with this, there

come too far to lose everything now. If Emily thinks s

, and then Rosaline responds with f

ncy's Poi

I feel a glimmer of hope that maybe my life still has purpose. But yesterday was differ

been forged , one that I did

was love at first sight. Not the kind of love a nurse is supposed to

ting blankets, checking vitals that did not need checking. I

upervisor gently scolds as she finds me back in t

nder that I have lost everything: my husband, my chances of being a mother, and the dream o

a little more time to sit beside Emily's girls when

ly! The fire has spread to the maternity wing! I repeat, ev

hallways, wheeling beds and carrying infants i

eart

's tri

t is already beginning to seep through the ceiling vents. The maternity wing is blanketed in c

door locked. I kick it open with all my strength

irls are there screaming, red-faced, wrapped in blankets in the

happen

other leave be

ked hallway, trying to shield their faces as best I can. The building groans abov

y lef

oy... and left thes

ut not from the smoke. Fr

discarded baggage. I can not stop thinking

rom my arms, but I hold on tight. I will not let go.

" one of the hospital sta

nstinctively. "I will watch th

like a lie as soon a

now what I did

behind in a fire. I do not care what her reasons were-fear

bandon

saved

s were mean

undles to my chest as they quiet in my arms. As if th

th

I will not hand them over to a woman

l rais

be their

even God himself