Mark pulled me out from under the bed. I hugged Emily tight, her bravery finally faltering into trembling exhaustion. “We have to get the baby and leave,” I whispered, voice raw. He didn’t question me. Together, we moved like shadows through the hospital corridors, avoiding the main entrances, heading toward freedom.
Outside, the cold night air hit us like a baptism. Emily whispered, “Are we safe now?” I squeezed her hand.
“Yes,” I said, looking at Mark. “We’re together. And as long as we have each other, we will be safe.”
The hospital faded behind us, a fortress we had narrowly escaped. Ahead lay an uncertain night—but finally, it was ours to define.