Chapter 36

She sat by Emily's bedside, sinking in a storm of thoughts about the hospital, then felt a little squeeze on her hand. She looked down; a small, fragile smile appeared as sleepy eyes opened.

"Mom, where am I?" The voice was soft, confused, from Emily.

Emma gave a reassuring smile and brushed a hand over Emily's hair. "You're at the hospital, sweetheart. How do you feel?"

"Mais. I was at school," Emily murmured, her face scrunched up in confusion. Emma's heart ached with her innocence. She swallowed hard, fighting back the tears threatening to spill. "Yes, you were, baby: But you needed just a little check-up, so I brought you here while you were sleeping" Emily pouted, looking around the sterile hospital room. "But I hate hospitals."

Emma let out a soft laugh; she wanted to lighten the mood. "I know, I hate hospitals too. We both do-that's something we

have in common."

"Where's Ethan?" Emily asked, her voice barely above a whisper

"He's at home, safe and sound," Emma replied, squeezing her daughter's hand to give her comfort.

her mother's face. "Mom. am sick

soothingly soft and firm at once. "No, baby, no one is dying. We're just here for a check-up.

Parker was teaching

to be fine, Emma whispered back,

whispered in that high-pitched voice as the crack shook her

seized, and a surge of fierce determination coursed through her.

is yet gently, held Emily's gaze fast with hers-her eyes welling up with tears. "You will not die, Emily," she said, the full force of her

words from her daughter finally broke down the fragments of hesitation that she struggled to hold on to. She had sworn never to return to Blackthorn, but her

The determination solidified in Emma's mind. She needed to act now, no matter what that

mattered now was her daughter's life. The very thought of touching her foot again

by either Black or Moore would be like handing herself over on a silver platter. After some thinking, she settled on Smith as the last name and Carol for the first name. Common, ordinary, unmemorable-it was

the documents: passports, medical files-everything to make her new identity absolutely watertight. She signed the referral document for Emily's treatment at Blackthorn Hospital and so set the wheels in motion. By morning, her luggage was

Tue, Dec 17 toti.

Emma and her grandchildren so much, yet Mrs. Walker knew what lay in the balance. She hugged her daughter tightly, her eyes clouded with apprehension and love. "Take care of

the heaviness of her mother's worry

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