Chapter 57

I’m still reeling from the doctor’s update when my mom’s shaky voice breaks the silence. We’re back in the waiting room, the oppressive weight of the situation hanging over us like a thick fog. She’s been holding it together remarkably well, but the strain of everything—Dad’s condition, the danger we’ve faced, the ongoing threats—seems to have finally taken its toll on her.

“Cheryl,” she begins, her voice soft but filled with a deep, heartfelt sincerity. “I need to tell you something.”

I look up from where I’ve been sitting, my hands gripping the armrests tightly. I’ve been trying to keep my emotions in check, but it’s getting harder by the minute. “What is it, Mom?”

She takes a deep breath, her eyes welling up with tears. “I’ve been thinking a lot about everything that’s happened. About what I said to you before about leaving.”

My heart skips a beat. “Mom, you don’t need to—”

“No, I do,” she interrupts, shaking her head. “I was wrong. I was so overwhelmed and frightened that I made y