Chapter 11 — Free

The door closed softly behind them, and the heavy, toxic cloud that had filled the room seemed to vanish with them.

The room was warm, and peaceful, and quiet once more, just my son and me and the man I loved.

Julian pulled a chair up to the side of my bed and sat, and reached out, his long fingers gently cupping Noah’s tiny head as our son let out a soft, contented sigh in his sleep.

“Are you alright, Chloe?” he asked softly, his eyes filled with genuine concern, the concern my own parents had not shown me once in the entire encounter.