Chapter 4
578words
I ran for the elevator, my mind racing. Lily had been making progress—or so I thought. What had I missed? What had triggered this?
The elevator doors opened on the pediatric floor, and I rushed toward the nurses' station. My colleague Dr. Reynolds intercepted me, his face grave.
"She's stable," he said before I could ask. "They pumped her stomach in time. But Olivia, this is serious. The foster family wants to relinquish care."
"They can't do that," I said, anger flaring. "She's already lost everything."
"They're scared. And frankly, so am I." Reynolds lowered his voice. "This case is getting attention from upstairs. Victor Carter called personally."
I froze. "Victor Carter? Nathan's father? What does he have to do with anything?"
Reynolds looked uncomfortable. "He's on the hospital board now. Apparently, he's taking a special interest in high-profile cases. A child survivor of that shooting spree certainly qualifies."
My mind reeled. Victor had always despised me, had tried to prevent our marriage with threats and bribes. Now he was inserting himself into my professional life? The divorce ink wasn't even dry.
"I need to see Lily," I said, pushing past him.
Lily looked tiny in the hospital bed, her dark hair splayed against the white pillow. Monitors beeped steadily beside her. When she saw me, her eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Olivia," she whispered.
I sat beside her, taking her small hand in mine. "Lily, what happened? You were doing so well this morning."
"I heard them talking. They don't want me anymore." Her voice broke. "Just like my real parents didn't want to stay with me."
My heart shattered. I recognized the distorted thinking, the way trauma warped a child's understanding of loss. "Your parents didn't choose to leave you, Lily. They loved you very much. And we're going to find you people who understand what a special girl you are."
"Promise?" Her eyes, so much older than her years, searched mine.
"I promise," I said, squeezing her hand. "And I never break my promises."
She studied my face with that unnerving intensity children sometimes have. "You look sad too. Did someone leave you?"
The question caught me off guard. I hesitated, then decided on honesty—Lily had experienced too many lies in her young life.
"Yes," I admitted softly. "My husband and I... we're not going to be together anymore."
"Did he die like my parents?"
"No, nothing like that. Sometimes adults just can't make things work, even when they care about each other."
Lily considered this, her brow furrowing. "That's stupid."
Despite everything, I laughed—a genuine laugh that felt foreign to my throat. "Yes, sometimes it is."
"Dr. Olivia?" Her voice grew serious again. "I remembered something. About the bad man who hurt my parents."
I leaned closer, my professional instincts sharpening. "What did you remember, Lily?"
"His eyes," she whispered. "They were gray. Like... like ice. And he knew my daddy's name. He said it before he..." She trailed off, her small body shuddering.
"That's very helpful, Lily," I said gently, making a mental note to inform Detective Ramirez. "You're very brave to remember that."
"I'm scared," she admitted. "What if he finds out I saw him?"
"I won't let anyone hurt you," I promised, though I knew it might be a promise I couldn't keep. "Try to rest now. I'll be back to check on you later."
