Chapter 24 This Has To Work

• Maerilee
• As soon as River and I step into my mother’s chamber, I’m struck by how still it is. My father stands near the bed, his hand resting gently on my mother’s arm, while my three siblings, Jimmen, Orindan, and Carmelina, are gathered around the room, their faces pale and drawn with worry. The weight of the situation hangs in the air, thick and suffocating. My mother, once so vibrant, now looks so small, so fragile, lying there motionless.
• I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I have to be strong. For her. For all of them.