Chapter 9

Mandy spent three months in the hospital. She survived, but the baby didn't. Her uterus was removed, and she'd never be able to have children again. The spinal injury didn't leave her completely paralyzed, but the left side of her body never recovered. She walked with a limp, and her left hand was useless, unable to grip anything heavy. The medical bills kept piling up. Her parents showed up at the hospital once. They yelled at her for being a disgrace to the family, tossed a few thousand in cash at her, and walked out. They never came back. She sent out resumes, but never heard back from anyone. Occasionally, she got an interview, but the moment they saw her name and her limp, they'd ask a few perfunctory questions and send her out the door. Once, an interviewer even said, "Our company's too small for someone with your… reputation. Everyone online already knows your story." Mandy didn't have money for rent and got kicked out. Dragging a battered suitcase, limping down the stree