Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

That same night, Emma sat with Jaden in Ethan's room. The only sound heard was that of the quiet hum of the monitors. Ethan lay unconscious, his small chest going up and down rhythmically. Emma carefully stroked his hand, her heart burdened by so much concern.

Hardly had she noticed that her phone vibrated until Jaden nudged her lightly.

She reached for it with a heavy sigh; knowing it would be one of her workers calling about some problem she really didn't have the energy to deal with at that moment. But then the caller ID caught her attention, and her breath hitched, her fingers beginning to shake. It was her mother.

She had warned her mother's nurse to keep any news of what happened lately away from her, knowing how fragile her health was. But clearly, it had failed. The late night call confirmed her fear.

Swallowing hard, she answered, "Mom," she said in a soft voice, her voice quivered as tears welled up in her eyes.

"I saw the news, Emma," her mother, Mrs. Walker said, a tone of worry in her voice. "Are you alright? What happened?

The sob that tore from Emma's throat couldn't be contained. "I'm so sorry, Mom. I'm really sorry." she sobbed. She wanted to tell her mother the truth about Ethan, about her problems, about everything but her mother's health just couldn't take such a blow.

"No, sweetheart, stop apologizing," Mrs. Walker said, her voice firm yet soft. "I'm coming over first thing in the morning."

"No!" Emma exclaimed immediately, in a panic tinged tone. "You can't travel, Mom, you know you can't."

"I can't just sit here knowing what you're going through." her mother said, breaking into sobs. "I need to be there for you."

"Mom, please don't you worry about me, it shall

breath from the other end. After a while of silence,

questioned. Her gaze fell on an unconscious Ethan. She wished she could say the truth. She wished.she could tell her mother that things weren't going so well, but she swallowed this lies and replied.

agreed not to visit. Emma slumped back into her chair as she hung up the phone. Silent tears streamed down her face as Jaden squeezed her shoulder in silent support. His comforting presence did little to stem the tide of loneliness and helpless despair that washed over her.

^^^^^

on her arm woke Emma up the next morning. She blinked groggily, taking a confused look around the room. Her gaze fell on the bed beside her; Ethan was still there and hadn't budged an inch from his position. Mommy, wake up," Emily said in a soft voice, holding a paper bag in her tiny hands. "Mr. Handsome told me to give

her heart racing with a mix of fear and curiosity. She opened it, and her breath caught. Inside was her favorite meal. For one

to keep out of her life, away from her children, yet he had listened not, just as he hadn't listened to her all those years of their marriage. She needed to let him know

he?" she asked tartly, her

long time ago, Mommy," Emily responded with a

deep breath to let herself settle.

he'd be back soon." Emily

the same level as Emily, relaxing her facial

clutched tightly in her fist, Emma stormed out of the room with a

in his office flipping through the file Kevin had just handed him. Although it was on the news that the truck had crashed into the daycare, there wasn't any special attention on it and this

addict and gambler. His wife and kids had left him years ago without a second thought. As Alexander read, anger began to rise in his mind. This was no accident.

you to dig deeper," he said, slamming the file onto his