Ryan became attentive near the end in a way that left less and less room for Sarah to speak. Whenever I tried to ask whether she was really all right, he appeared with water, a pill reminder, Sarah would smile, rub her stomach, and say, « We’re fine, Mom. »
« Your daughter disclosed a safety concern about the babies’ discharge. »
Lily and Grace arrived on a rainy Thursday morning. I reached the hospital carrying two stuffed rabbits. Outside her room, a social worker stepped into my path and asked whether we could talk privately.
« Your daughter disclosed a safety concern about the babies’ discharge, » she said. « The hospital has asked child protection for an emergency review. »
« What does that mean? »
« It means the hospital is delaying the babies’ discharge until a judge can review the concern. »
I went straight to Sarah and touched her fingers.
Through the doorway, I saw Sarah lying rigid beneath a thin blanket. Ryan stood beside the window with his phone in his hand, calm and dry-eyed. Sarah kept one hand pressed against the overnight bag beside her bed, even when a nurse tried to move it.
