Chapter139: The Realization

Chapter 139: The Realization  SILVIA I stood motionless in the hospital parking lot, watching my son's taillights disappear into the darkness as he drove toward the forest.  The weight of what I had overheard earlier in the hallway pressed down on my chest like a physical burden, which in turn made every breath that I took feel labored and painful.  My hands were still shaking from the shock of it all, but I forced myself to take a deep breath and clench my fists until my nails bit into my palms, spilling blood.  There would be time to fall apart later. Right now, I had work to do. I turned back toward the hospital entrance, my mind already shifting into the calculated mode I'd perfected over decades of pack politics and social maneuvering. The performance I was about to give would require every ounce of acting ability I possessed, but I'd been playing roles my entire life. This one just happened to matter more than most. The hallway leading to Sophia's room felt endless as I walked ba