บททั้งหมดของ Broken bond, burning desire: บทที่ 171 - บทที่ 180

"I am Lily's mother. I want to see my daughter."The words hit me like a physical blow. I was standing in the doorway of our home. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. It was a beautiful morning. And a woman I had never met was standing on my porch, claiming to be the mother of my child."I am sorry," I said. "Who are you?"She was thin. Too thin. Her face was gaunt. Her eyes were sunken. She looked like she had been through hell."My name is Sarah. I am Lily's birth mother. I gave birth to her sixteen years ago."I felt my heart stop. "You are supposed to be sick. You are supposed to be dying."She laughed. A bitter, broken sound. "I was sick. I was very sick. But I got better. And now I want to see my daughter."I stepped out onto the porch and closed the door behind me. "You abandoned her. You left her alone. She spent years thinking you were dead."Sarah flinched. "I know. I know what I did. I was sick. I was dying. I thought she would be better off without me.""You thoug

"Sarah relapsed. She is in the hospital."The words came at three in the morning. The phone had rung and I had answered it, half asleep, expecting the worst. It was Elena. Her voice was urgent.I sat up in bed. My heart was pounding. "What do you mean she relapsed?""She was found unconscious in her apartment. Someone called an ambulance. They think she took something. Maybe pills. Maybe more. They do not know yet."I felt the blood drain from my face. "Is she alive?""She is alive. But it is bad. You need to come."I hung up and turned to him. He was already awake, watching me with worried eyes."What is it?""It is Sarah. She relapsed. She is in the hospital."He sat up. "What? How? She has been clean for months.""I do not know. But we need to go. Now."We got dressed and woke Lily. She was groggy at first. Then she saw our faces and knew something was wrong."What happened? What is going on?"I took her hands. "It is Sarah. She is in the hospital. She relapsed."Lily stared at me.

"I have never been so scared in my entire life."Lily was lying in a hospital bed. Her face was flushed. Her hair was plastered to her forehead. She was in labor. And she was terrified.I was standing beside her. Holding her hand. "You can do this. You have done harder things."She looked at me. "I have never pushed a human being out of my body before."I laughed. "Fair point. But you are strong. You are the strongest person I know."She squeezed my hand. "Do not leave me. Promise me you will not leave me."I squeezed back. "I will never leave you. I am right here."Eric was on the other side of the bed. His face was pale. He looked more scared than she did."Are you okay?" I asked him.He shook his head. "No. I am terrified."I smiled. "That is normal. That means you care."The doctor came in. "You are fully dilated. It is time to push."Lily looked at me. Her eyes were wide. "This is it. This is really happening."I nodded. "This is it. Now push."She pushed. She screamed. She pushe

"I never thought I would be this happy to see a moving truck."Lily was standing on the porch of her new house. Her face was flushed with excitement. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun. She was wearing old jeans and a t-shirt. She looked happier than I had ever seen her.I walked up the steps and hugged her. "Welcome home, neighbor."She laughed. "Neighbor. I like the sound of that."Eric came out carrying a box. "Hey, Mom. Thanks for coming to help."I took the box from him. "I would not miss this for the world."We spent the morning unpacking. The house was small but charming. White walls. Blue shutters. A big kitchen. A backyard with a garden. It was perfect for them."This is a beautiful house," I said. "You made a good choice."Lily smiled. "We wanted something close to you. Something where Grace could grow up knowing her family."I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "She is going to have the best life here."He came in with another box. "Where do you want this one?"Lily poin

"Two children under two. What were we thinking?"Lily was laughing. But there was exhaustion in her eyes. Grace was running around the living room. David was crying in her arms. The house was chaos.I walked in and took David from her. "You were thinking that you wanted a family. And you got one."She collapsed onto the couch. "I am so tired. I do not remember the last time I slept."I sat down beside her. David was already calming in my arms. "That is what grandmothers are for. I am here to help."She looked at me. "You do not have to do this. You have your own life."I shook my head. "You are my life. You and Grace and David and Eric. You are everything."She leaned against me. "I love you, Mom.""I love you too, Lily. Now let me help you."The next few weeks were a blur of feedings and diaper changes and sleepless nights. I spent most days at Lily's house. Helping with Grace. Helping with David. Just being there."You are a lifesaver," Eric said one evening. "I do not know what we