Through the Night

VANESSA

I stared at my reflection in the hospital bathroom mirror and hardly recognized myself. My face was ashen, eyes hollow with fear. I'd managed to clean away Fabian's blood, but I couldn't scrub off the feeling of failure that clung to me like a second skin.

"Some mother you are," I whispered to my reflection. "You couldn't even protect your own child."

My hands trembled as I splashed more cold water on my face. The memory of Fabian's tiny body on that gurney kept flashing through my mind—so still, so vulnerable. My sweet boy, who just yesterday had been laughing as he built sandcastles on the beach.

I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself before stepping back into the hallway. I couldn't fall apart. Not now. Fabian needed me to be strong.