Proserpina

Sophie

Earlier that evening.

Sophie had been leaning against the wall, listening to the children playing. Her phone rang and she frowned. A number she was unfamiliar with popped up on the screen.

She answered.

A woman’s voice. Unfamiliar but the woman identified her by name.

‘Your mother has been shifted to another facility,’ said the voice curtly.

Sophie reached out for the wall, shock and disbelief warring in her.

‘How…? I mean, when?’ she whispered. The last time she had checked which was that afternoon, she had been told the same thing; her mother was unconscious. So what had happened in between?

‘It was on the orders of Mrs Delano.’ went on the hateful voice.

’She sent word that your mother had been treated enough; it was getting to be too expensive.’

The phone was abruptly cut.

***

Her palms sweating, her breath coming in harsh gasps, Sophie dialled the hospital.

Almost at once, she was speaking with a nurse; yes, her mother had been discharged from that particular ward and was b