to wait. She was this close to the finish line, she had to keep going. In her sleep-deprived state, she envisioned herself a bedraggled marathoner nearing the end of a race. She giggled, earning herself a few odd stares.
“London Bridge Hospital,” she told the cabbie after her bags had been loaded and she’d sunk into the back seat. She resisted the urge to close her eyes for even a moment because she knew she’d fall asleep. Instead, she brushed her hair and put some lip gloss on. It felt a little like using a band-aid when a tourniquet was needed, but there wasn’t much she could really do about that in the back of a cab. Maybe he’d consider the big black circles under her eyes endearing.
The taxi pulled to a stop in front of the hospital. Kate took a steadying breath as she stepped onto the sidewalk. It was the moment of truth. She stood there for a moment after the cabbie pulled away, bag in hand and staring at the entrance. Another hospital flashed through her mind. Another mom. Her throat felt thick