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"Jru Sinclair. I'm her daughter."

She nodded gently before picking up the phone and speaking quietly to someone on the other end. I stood there rubbing my palms against my jeans, watching her lips move while my heart pounded against my ribs.

A few minutes later, a woman wearing dark scrubs came through a door behind the desk.

"Ms. Sinclair?"

I nodded.

"I'm Ms. Harris. Why don't you come with me?"

I followed her down a quiet hallway, my shoes squeaking against the polished floor. The farther we walked, the colder the building seemed to get.

Ms. Harris stopped outside a small room and turned toward me.

"Before we go in, I want you to know that you can take as much time as you need. If you'd rather sit down for a moment, that's perfectly fine."

I shook my head.

"No. I just wanna see my mama."

She studied my face for a second before giving me a sympathetic nod.

"All right."

She opened the door and guided me inside.

There was a covered body resting on a metal table.

My breath caught.

I stopped walking.

Ms. Harris moved beside the table, placing her hand near the edge of the sheet.

"Are you ready?"

I wanted to say no.

I wanted to turn around, walk out of that building, and pretend I'd never gotten Montae's call.

But instead, I nodded.

She carefully folded the sheet back.

And there she was.

My mama.

Her eyes were closed, her face still, and for the first time in my life, there wasn't a single trace of anger in her expression.

I took one unsteady step forward, pressing my hand against my mouth.

"Oh, Mama..."

My knees buckled, and Ms. Harris quickly reached for my arm.

"Easy, sweetheart. I've got you."