Chapter 4

At eight p.m. that day, Natalie's final test results came back.

Her heart ultrasound was normal, and her oxygen levels were fine. Her blood clotting showed no major problems, too. The doctor said she was just anxious after giving birth and was also anemic.

All Natalie needed was some rest.

Mom went over the test results three times before she finally smiled. "Thank goodness you're okay, Natalie. You scared me half to death."

Natalie didn't smile. She kept glancing at my bed. "Mom, what about Winona? She still hasn't had her ultrasound, has she?"

Mom followed her gaze.

The maternity pad underneath me hadn't gotten wet again in quite some time.

Mom came over and lifted the pad to check. She visibly relaxed.

"The bleeding has stopped. What else is there to check?"

Bianca spoke up at once. "Ms. Winona still doesn't look right, and her abdomen started swelling again this afternoon. I recommend…"

Mom cut her off, sounding much more relaxed now. "She barely ate anything, and she's been lying in bed all day. Of course she doesn't feel well. Let her get some sleep first. Once the power supply is fully stable tomorrow morning, I'll examine her myself."

Natalie still looked worried. "But Winona hasn't said much all day."

Mom smiled. "She's just upset. Winona's always been like this. Whenever she feels she's been treated unfairly, she shuts everyone out. Don't take it personally."

"Winona's nothing like that," Natalie argued.

"I know you're looking out for her." Mom patted Natalie's hand, looking at her with unmistakable affection.

Elijah finally had a moment to spare. He pulled up a chair and sat beside my bed.

When he touched my hands, he frowned. "Why are your hands still so cold?"

With that, he tucked my hands inside his jacket to warm them.

"It's my fault today. Once the hospital gets back to normal, I'll take two weeks off and not worry about anyone else. I'll focus on taking care of you while you recover."

I said nothing.

Thinking I was still upset, he took out his phone and showed me a picture of our baby. "Look. Here's your son."

On the screen, our tiny baby lay in an incubator with his eyes closed and his lips moving faintly.

"The nurses say he looks like you, but I think he's got my nose. When they let him out, I'll bring him to you first, okay?"

I struggled to keep my eyes open, but the baby on the screen grew blurrier and blurrier until all I could see was a white blur.

Just then, Dad returned from downstairs.

The public backlash over the power outage was under control.

Reporters had included footage of Dad crossing my name off the transfer list the night before. The comments were full of praise for the hospital's refusal to give anyone special treatment.

Dad was in a great mood and smiled as soon as he walked in. "Winona did me a huge favor today."

Mom chided him. "Winona's been through so much already. Stop teasing her."

"I'm serious." Dad came over and stroked my head. "Once you and Natalie are both discharged, I'll treat everyone to a celebration. The babies are around the same age, so we might as well celebrate their sip and see together."

Natalie finally managed a small smile. "Winona will definitely say your plans are tacky."

Elijah laughed along with her. "Winona already picked a place. It's the hotel by the river, and it's ridiculously expensive."

"So what if it's expensive?" Dad waved a hand. "After everything Winona went through today, this is the least we can do for her."

For once, the hospital room was filled with laughter and chatter.

They started discussing whom to invite and what the babies should wear. They even discussed whether to take one set of baby photos in formal outfits and another in costumes.

I lay among them, growing colder by the minute.

My abdomen was swollen and growing tighter. Every breath felt as if something inside me were slowly tearing me apart.

I wanted to call out to Mom. My lips moved, but my voice was too faint to be heard over their laughter.

My phone lay beside my pillow.

It took all my strength to reach it. I tried to unlock it with my fingerprint three times, but it wouldn't work. I had to enter the passcode slowly, one number at a time.

I opened my chat with Mom. Our last conversation had been before I gave birth.

She had asked if I was scared.

I replied, "No. You'll be there with me."

I stared at those words for a long time, then slowly typed another message.

"Mom, I'm not angry with Natalie."

My fingers were shaking so badly that I could barely hit the right keys.

I deleted the message twice before finally finishing the next one.

"My stomach really hurts. Can you please come and check on me one more time?"

No one noticed me.

Dad was laughing as he spoke. "When the babies are older, we have to take a new family portrait with both daughters and grandsons. We need everyone in it."

Mom smiled and nodded. "Of course. We won't leave anyone out."

My finger hovered over the send button.

I was so close, but the phone slipped from my hand.

The message remained unsent in the text box.

I listened as they continued planning the family portrait.

Then my vision slowly faded to black.