“What do you want, Mom? Don’t tell me she’s stirring up more drama and dragging you in to back her up.”
But Terese wasn’t having it. She shouted into the phone, her voice cracking with urgency.
“Your wife’s barely conscious from blood loss! The baby’s already in distress—it’s not getting enough oxygen! And you—you took all the doctors! Are you trying to kill them?”
There was a pause. Then came his low, sarcastic laugh.
“Oh please. Did she tell you to call me? She already gave birth yesterday. Now she’s pretending she’s still in labor? What a joke.”
He clicked his tongue and said dismissively, “Look, I’m busy. I’m taking newborn photos with Shannah and our son. Zareena wants a doctor? Fine, I’ll send someone.”
Terese hung up, gripping my hand tightly with her cold, trembling fingers.
“Don’t be scared, honey. The doctor will be here soon,” she promised, though her voice was full of fear.
I held my swollen belly with both hands, feeling the life inside me slowly grow weaker.
Tears blurred my vision. My whole body was trembling.
And at that moment, the past came rushing back.