Chapter 10 - THE MOTHER WHO NEVER STOPPED FIGHTING
Hannah Rowan was transported to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.
She was severely malnourished.
Dehydrated.
Exhausted.
But conscious.
Agent Shaw visited her after physicians determined she was medically stable enough to speak briefly.
Hannah's first question was:
“Where are my babies?”
Shaw showed her photographs.
Maisie smiling beside Benji's hospital bed.
Benji awake.
Lauren standing nearby.
Hannah stared.
Then began crying.
“Lauren?”
Shaw nodded.
“She found them.”
Hannah shook her head.
“No.”
She smiled through tears.
“Maisie found her.”
Hannah explained that she'd taught Maisie to remember Lauren's name.
And the gloves.
And the three stitches.
When the opportunity came, Maisie escaped with Benji.
Hannah had helped her reach an exterior service door.
Then stayed behind to delay the guards.
She didn't know whether the children had survived the storm.
Until now.
The reunion took place two days later, after Hannah was medically cleared for a carefully arranged visit.
Lauren stood beside Maisie.
The little girl was holding the yellow gloves.
When Hannah entered, Maisie froze.
Then screamed:
“MOMMY!”
She ran.
Hannah dropped to her knees.
They collided in the middle of the room.
For a long time, nobody spoke.
Hannah held her daughter and cried.
Maisie buried her face against her mother's neck.
“You came,” Maisie whispered.
Hannah kissed her hair.
“I never stopped trying.”
Then Hannah looked up.
Lauren stood nearby.
Tears streaming down her face.
Hannah extended one hand.
“Lauren.”
Lauren stepped forward.
They embraced.
Four years.
Four years of fear.
Loss.
Silence.
And now they were together.
Hannah whispered:
“You kept your promise.”
Lauren shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at Maisie.
“She kept hers.”
The little girl held up the gloves.
Three black stitches.
May you like
Still there.
And everyone in the room began crying again.
