Thirty five

Charlotte's heart was beating fast, and her palms were sweaty as the hospital building appeared in her line of sight. She seemed to have forgotten when she woke up this morning that her mother had developed the habit of watching the news and staying current since she got admitted to the hospital.

Her mother would even find out what happened before Dalton did. She was sure that her mother waited for her to close from work before calling. Charlotte felt like a sheep to the slaughter as she walked into the hospital and in the direction of the elevator, this would take her to the floor where her mother's room was located.

She was grateful that she had eaten. If not, she was so sure that she would have immediately fainted after receiving her mother's call. Her palms were clammy and sweaty as she drew close to her mother's room.

Charlotte hesitated when she got to the door, and she could not bring herself to push the door open with her hands, which were suddenly too heavy. She could feel