Tabitha’s POV

I shake my head and take a small step back from my mom. “Mom, I don’t think we should be talking about this right now,” I say, my voice tight. “You’re not in the ideal condition. You’re in the hospital. You need to rest.” I keep my eyes on her, trying to measure her mood, trying to gauge if she’s delirious or just angry, or… something worse.

“Oh, this?” she says, lifting her arm like it’s nothing. And then she rips the IV line from her hand.

I gasp and lurch forward, horror ripping through me. Blood wells from her hand and drips onto the sheets. My fingers...