Marcus's POV

The newspaper lands on my desk with a soft thud. I'm reaching for my coffee when the headline catches my eye:

"FROM HOMELESS TO HERO: Local Woman Transforms Tragedy into Triumph"

Below it, a photo of Riley Plia smiling in her hospital office, surrounded by thank-you cards from families.

My coffee goes cold as I read.

Riley Plia, 24, was homeless and desperate when her daughter needed life-saving surgery. Today, she's Mercy General Hospital's most successful patient advocate, ...