For a second Chloe thought she was hallucinating again.

Maybe the hunger, the chains, the pain, had all left behind echoes that were now tricking her eyes. Because there was no way. No way her mother was standing here, framed in the doorway, whole and radiant.

But then her mother took a step forward. And another. And Chloe couldn't breathe.

"Mom..." The word broke from her throat like a prayer, fragile and raw.

Her mother smiled, tears spilling down her cheeks. "My baby girl."

Chloe didn't ...