Book 2: Chapter 6

Amira POV

Present Day...

The beeping of the heart machine was the only thing grounding me.

It's been days since I returned—days since Mama collapsed in the yard. The neighbors had come and we'd rushed her to the hospital. 

The doctor said Mama had suffered a mild stroke. Her blood pressure had spiked, cutting off blood flow to part of her brain.

Mama has been unconscious since then. Every day, I sobbed by her side, hoping for the moment she'd wake up.

Despite the chaos, I kept thinking about the stranger and the fleeting moment of fun we shared that night. Nathaniel Rivera. Why was I smiling at the thought of his name?

“Yes, yes...oh, no!” Oluchi murmured, she was sprawled on the floor on a mat, playing a game on Ma