My daughter whispered that I should hide under the hospital bed—just minutes after I gave birth. The room above felt distant and dreamlike, as if I were watching someone else’s life unfold. The cool floor pressed against my cheek, reminding me of the present. My heart raced, each beat echoing loudly in the quiet room. Emily stayed by the door, her tiny frame standing firm, a brave shield between me and the unknown. I noticed her sparkly shoes, her favorite. “Where is she?” the doctor’s voice cut through the tension, calm but urgent.

The world above me felt distant, unreal, as if I were trapped beneath a fragile layer of glass separating me from ordinary life. The hospital lights overhead glinted coldly through […]