Her hands lay open on the blanket.

For the moment, she was holding nothing.

PART 4 — When Clara Opened Her Eyes

By the following morning, the news was improving.

Oliver and Lucas were responding to treatment.

Their condition still required monitoring, and staff explained the changes in measured terms rather than declaring that the frightening arrival no longer mattered.

Chloe asked whether they would come home with her.

“That is the plan when they’re ready,” the nurse said.