ANNA'S POV

"So, you believe me now?” the woman said to me, her calm voice carrying a hint of hope.

“Not even close,” I replied sharply. “I’d first like to see my mom, my real mom.”

The look on her face shifted, just slightly. Her brows drew together as her fingers brushed her temple, and she let out a quiet sigh before speaking again. “But you know you’re not in a fit condition to move around. You still need to rest,” she said, her tone filled with a soft concern that I wasn’t used to hearing from anyone lately.

“If I can’t move, I’ll tell you I can’t move, okay?”...