7

SORAYA

I sipped my fizzy drink, the bubbles tickling my nose, when Ava appeared at a distance. Her eyes scanned the room. Then, they locked onto mine, and her expression turned serious. She mouthed the word, "emergency"

My mind went blank as I stared at Ava, my thoughts racing. Something was wrong. Oh God, was it the baby? Was Ava going into labor? I felt my heart pounding in my chest. I quickly set my drink down.

I followed Ava through the throng of people, the music growing fainter as I approached her. Ava's long hair swung as she turned to face me.

For a moment, I studied Ava's face. As I looked at her, my heart calmed. She didn't look like she was in labor. Her face wasn't contorted in pain, and her eyes didn't have that frazzled look I'd seen in pregnant women about to give birth. Whatever was wrong, it didn't seem to be about the baby's arrival. Yet, the worry in Ava's eyes told me something was still off.

"Kaylee's been wandering off all night," she said. "I've had to chase af