Serena's POV
I pulled her closer to me, feeling her tiny heartbeat against mine. "Mommy will always be right here with you. Always."
She hiccupped a few times, her sobs gradually subsiding. "Promise? And Daddy too? You won't leave each other? You'll both stay with me forever?"
My smile felt strained, but I kept it in place for her sake. "Of course we will. We'll always be here for you."
"Try to sleep a little more now," I murmured, stroking her hair. "Then we can go home."
The doctor had already assured me that Rancy's condition wasn't serious. She wouldn't need to stay overnight—just some medication for a few days would do. Still, watching my baby girl lying in that hospital bed, her face pale and tear-stained, felt like someone was stabbing me repeatedly in the chest.
After Rancy f
