Chapter 44 The Gratitude

• Leora
• Charlotte moved with instinctive certainty, anticipating my needs before I even knew I needed them. She rose smoothly, grabbed a pink container from the stand nearby, and poured water into a waiting cup. She handed it to me without a word, and I wasted no time bringing it to my lips. The first gulp was a massive relief. Cold liquid slid down my parched throat, soothing the rawness that had scraped at every swallow. The chill of the water eased the scratchiness. When I lowered the cup, Charlotte immediately refilled it. Her movements were quick, steady, and deliberate.
• "You collapsed, baby girl, and we didn't know if you'd wake up. We got you here to the clinic as fast as we could, and we've been here since," Nathaniel explained.