Anastasia adjusted Aurora's blanket gently, making sure the child was still warm.
Aurora had slept soundly through the night, and the doctor had promised she would be fine in a few days. But Anastasia hadn't closed her eyes once.
She stood by the window of the hospital room, sipping coffee that had long gone cold. Her mind wasn't resting. She stared outside but wasn't really looking.
"Why now?" she whispered under her breath. "Why did you get sick now, Aurora… when everything is starting to come together?"
She took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears. "I need to be stronger. I can't break down now."
A soft knock came on the door.
It was Ms. Bennie, carrying a bag of clean clothes for Aurora. "She's still asleep?" she asked softly.
Anastasia nodded. "She's better. The fever's coming down."
"Thank God," Ms. Bennie replied with a soft smile.
There was a pause before Anastasia turned to face her. "We might need to leave the Philippines in the next few days."
