“Claire,” Emily said, “why did you leave?”
Claire was quiet so long Emily thought she had asked too much.
“When Noah was born,” Claire said finally, “Ryan wasn’t there. He had told me I was making everything difficult by refusing his help. Linda came to the hospital anyway. She brought papers. She said Ryan had rights and I was being selfish.”
Emily closed her eyes.
“A nurse noticed I was scared,” Claire continued. “Her name was Denise. She told Linda visiting hours were over, even though they weren’t. Then she whispered that my discharge papers were being delayed because someone had called pretending to be my medical proxy.”
“Ryan?”
“I never proved it. But Denise helped me call my sister. I left the hospital through a staff exit with Noah wrapped in a blanket. I stayed in three places before I stopped being afraid of every car outside.”
