Trauma

Deep into the night, Yvonne lay curled in a fetal position in the middle of her bed. Sweat and tears soaked the mattress beneath her as her body burned with fever. The relentless scenes of the day she gave birth replayed in her head hundreds of times, each memory stabbing her with a fresh wave of pain.

Earlier that day, an event had triggered her trauma, opening old wounds she thought had healed. Despite finding Michael's situation pitiful, she couldn't help but be amused until Lily and Jack settled into the classroom for the day's lecture and activities. The twins looked happier than Yvonne had ever seen them. They even ignored the teasing from students who found amusement in asking if their mommy would pick them up instead of some nanny.

The twins kept smiling and waving at her, their innocence and joy palpable. It was adorable, but then things took a turn for the worse when they approached her after school.

Some students still lingered, but Lily and Jack walked up to Yvonne an