Chapter 2

The phone call came an hour later, not from Sofia, but from a number she didn’t recognize. A woman’s voice, hesitant, official. “Mrs. Rodriguez? This is Mercy Hospital.” Maria’s heart stopped. “Is it Sofia? Is she okay?” “There’s been an incident, Mrs. Rodriguez. Your daughter… she’s been brought in. You need to come.” The voice was too careful. Maria’s keys clattered to the floor. She fumbled for them, her hands shaking. “What happened? Tell me!” “It’s best if you come down, ma’am. The doctor will speak with you.” The line went dead. Maria ran. She ran out of the college, her manager yelling something she didn’t hear. She ran to her old, rattling car, praying it would start. It did, sputtering to life like an old man’s cough. The drive to Mercy was a blur. Red lights, blaring horns, none of it registered. Only Sofia’s face, her bright, artistic Sofia. Please, God, let her be okay. Please. She parked haphazardly, engine still running, and sprinted into the emergency room. The smell of antiseptic and fear hit her like a wall. A nurse saw her wild eyes. “Sofia Rodriguez?” Maria gasped. The nurse’s face was grim. “This way, ma’am.” They walked down a sterile corridor, each footstep echoing too loudly. The nurse stopped at a curtained-off bay. “She’s in here. Dr. Ramirez will be with you shortly.” Maria pulled back the curtain. And the world ended.