Sarah burst into the hospital, breathless. Rain clung to her clothes, dripping from her hair onto the sterile floor. She had lost her umbrella somewhere along the way. She didn’t remember when, and she didn’t care.

She rushed to the reception desk, barely managing to form the words. The nurse pointed her in the right direction, and she took off, her soaked shoes squeaking against the tiles.

She turned the corner—and froze.

Her mother lay motionless on the hospital bed, her face pale, ...