dy, but she could barely breathe. What was happening? Who were these

rawling to the edge of the bed. "

t. You were very sick, but you're okay and saf

a fr

days? How? W

unfamiliar man standing at the far end of the room with both hands in his pockets. He

e didn't answer right away. Instead, he n

brought you here. You were found by the roa

inked, c

crashing back like shattered glass. The labor, the pain, the operation, the coldness in Mrs Lena's

as her body shook from the fresh w

gain, but this time her voice

e ans

ian. "Did you... Did y

once again. The nurses tried to calm her, but nothing they did could

ispered. "I carried them a

an K

her mouth. All the nights she had whispered his name to the babies inside her, all the dreams

All

thing. Her body, her child, her worth, everything. They had used her like s

e wasn

ven c

rise again. And when she did... she w

I will haunt you and hunt you. I will make you choke on every

never see

did, it woul

ungs and the last drop of blood in my bod

*

s and maids were tending to the baby. Just outside the do

and walked ahead of them while

hat she meant, including the answers she was

her heart st

y the roadside. But, despite that, the girl still ling

ext. She was angry at them, furious even, for not completing the job properly. They were supposed to watch an

asked around, and questioned the neighbors. Bu

ap her mind around it, how Calla could've disappeared so completely without a tra

d she have

amaritan? Mrs Lena had even made a few calls herself, b

st about Calla

ount of help. She knew too much and could turn their world upside d

rything she had worked for: the family name, Norman's reputa

rated sigh. She then placed one hand on her forehead,

er her breath. " "That stupid

hroat and said quietly, "I t

obably end

the feeling didn't last long. A knot of unease tightened

think," She said sharply and waved her hand dismissively. "Get

ads slightly and turned to

a deep breath, she turned and headed toward the dining r

She had not expected him to be back so soon a

out, snapping her fr

ed, forcing a light smile a

ou alr

nd waved a dismissive han

don't loo

t always revealed he could see straight through her. "What ca

ed toward the nearby hallway. He had spotted the me

right? Can I

swered and turned toward

THE NUR

g him to one crib where a baby lay sleep

's features. Indeed, he looked just like him. Reachin

xt crib, but it was empty.

deep breath and clutched her chest. "I didn't want to te

lickered across his face: shock, anger, sorrow. Knowing she h

as I knew she would." Tears welled up in her eyes and she gently dabbed at them with a tissue. "She's so ungrateful. We gave her shelter, a roof over

h restraint. But Mrs Lena wasn't done. She to

eir." She paused and shook her head. "I alwa

st stood still with his fists clenched at hi

he?" He fin

nd. She had assumed he would shift focus back to

e vanished in

in confusion. "What d

,000 cheque and disappeared on the same night.

crib beside the one holding his newborn son. How dare she? How

n Calla went through, the complications, how close she came to death, or what she suffered through al

mself than anyone else in the room. Even Mrs Lena

ed in, smiling brightly. "There you are. We wer

the moment they both saw the look on Norman's face, both women froze. Hi

y as she stepped closer, "Honey? What's wr