Then in quarters. I let the pieces flutter down onto the floor below.

You can’t afford me, I mouthed.

Thomas turned and bolted, shoving past a reporter, nearly knocking over a tripod, and all but ran out the doors with Karen trailing behind him in a panicked retreat.

Chapter 6 — A Real Mother Stayed

The screen went black. The stage lights came back up, warm and bright.

The crowd buzzed, a volatile mix of outrage and shock. I stepped back to the microphone, and the room slowly hushed.

“I survived because medicine matters,” I said softly, the anger bleeding out of my voice, replaced by gratitude.