The Envelope She Couldn’t Hide 1

It was on my phone.

Still vibrating.

My mother’s name flashing again and again.

Diane Carter.

I declined the call.

Hard.

The ride to the hospital blurred into fragments—sirens screaming, the medic calling out vitals, Sarah’s strained breathing counting seconds between contractions or spasms or something worse.

I sat beside her, holding her hand, but my thumb kept brushing against my phone screen.

That second name.

.

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