My Mother

caught her wrist. Not hard enough to hurt her, but hard enough to stop her.

“Give it to me,” he said, voice shaking with rage.

Lily was gasping.

The alarm screamed louder.

The door burst open.

Nurse Tasha ran in first, followed by another nurse and a respiratory therapist. Tasha saw the mask in my mother’s hand, saw Lily’s face, and moved like lightning.continue reading …