GENESIS

“Mija, please calm down and listen to me,” my mom said, her voice soft but firm through the phone. “Respira, mi amor. Respira hondo.”

I couldn’t breathe.

My heart was slamming so hard I thought it would crack my ribs. My eyes were blurry from the tears rushing down my cheeks in hot, endless streams. All I could think was: **this cannot be happening*. Not after everything. Not fter the the pain I’d clawed through to finally have peace. The happiness I’d bled for. The family. The twins. Kieran.

The universe couldn’t be that cruel. It couldn’t take him from me now.

“I’m on my way to the hospital,”...