all

as cold, dripp

d. What's the hurry? Rest assured, you'll receive your due. Ju

se. "Avoid calling me unless it's urgent

rds, the conversati

tightly, Hadley's

xtent, Eric

sur

ned ashen. Requesting money from him ha

r unchanged stomach, closed her eyes,

.

nths had

in her modest room, her pregnan

recommendation for an early hospitalization due to the baby's

ets were

ng that call with Eric, he ha

support he promised

way to afford her apartment anymore, s

out to him for fin

ng labeled a paras

o secure some part-time work,

through careful budgeting, she

ep, the night erupted

ir

pierced

cap

rew open her door to a scene of utter chaos. Smoke

drained of colo

dle

ent, was frantic with worry

fled? It's a fi

t, go

spun around to sna

neighbor's firm grip stopped her. "Are you out of your

mus

on was clear as sh

ad painstakingly gathered for her baby's future

to retri

that moment, a flaming beam from the

A

stepped back, narro

was now obstru

! Escap

N

ouldn't consider leaving. Breaking away,

A

her. Turning swiftly, Hadley felt the flames lick

dle

ut and yanked her to s

h a shake of her head, even as coughs wracke

s go,

neighbor pleaded, "Yo

ut

ould kill you both! If you go back, it

r neighbor, Hadley manage

she had failed to retrieve her savings. Powerless, she watched

she to

A

uck her, causing Hadley to

matter? Ar

rmed aroun

aving he

bulance! We need to get

.

A

y st

positioned on a delivery table. She withstood a har

she delivere

in her arms, and tears welled up in

s her c

n fami

ne in the worl

of the moment, she let her eyes f

..

her infant close, her gaz

y. She had come to discuss the outstanding hospital bills. Hadle

owered her head, a

efeated, with noth

ting Hadley's youth, assumed she had

who could assist you? Call them," the nurse gently sugges

began to bri

ends? She h

uld not ignore her obligations,

her bag, she ret

alled

choed unans

e call was

ic.

el

hat responded, smooth

at the moment. But feel free to talk to me," Linda c

truly offer

arbor resentme

er, Hadley had no ro

e non-exist

d then said, "I was wondering if he might...

t carefully, not as c

e to repay it as

voice carrying a hint of amusemen

ank

itude were cut short a

he felt a knot of anxi

lp? Perhaps for Nyla's sake, or given their

ed by, no help ar

standing outside the hospital

come due to u

inst the harsh winter sun, t

cry,

red as she bi

other now. You've got a child t

oor, her previous home lost to th

..

ks had

sidewalk, Hadley h

Stop tha

ze h

thundered

ed on her; escap

rd, twisting instinctively to pr

store clerk, securing he

eal? Hand it over!" demanded the clerk, forcefully pul

mula and diapers?

he's carryin

me. She wished she could just vanish. She'd lost

r, she realized surrender wasn't an