She didn’t ask anyone to wake her mother.
She had spent three days trying that herself.
Now she let the hospital try.
The next morning brought the first major change.
Her mother opened her eyes.
At first, she could answer only simple questions.
She knew she was in a hospital.
She knew she had newborn twins.
She knew her older daughter was nearby.
What she didn’t understand was how much time had passed.
When a clinician told her, she stared.
“Three days?”
Her voice was barely audible.
Then her eyes widened.
“The babies.”
He told her they were alive and receiving care.
She tried to sit up.
Staff stopped her almost immediately.
“My daughter?”
“She’s safe too.”
That was when the mother began crying.
Quietly at first.
