"Wow. You finally showed up."

Ava’s voice cuts through the blinding white quiet like broken glass. I barely make it two steps into her hospital room and stop cold. She’s thinner and paler, with eyes that look wild and sunken. Her hair’s tangled at the ends like she hasn’t brushed it in days.

I blink hard. “Ava…”

“You look nice,” she mutters while shifting against the pillows. She winces a little. “Glowing, even. That pregnancy must be suiting you.”

I want to laugh or cry, but I do neither.

“I came as soon as I could.”

“No, you didn’t,” she snaps all at once. Her voice shakes, but not from...