The Coldest Winter Chapter 2

Lily fell asleep in my arms, but her face was unnaturally flushed.

I touched her forehead.

It was burning hot.

"Mark, can you drive faster? My daughter has a fever!"

Mark nodded and accelerated.

I took out my phone to call Tessa again.

No signal.

The highway wound through the mountains. Reception was spotty.

"How much longer to the service station?"

"Twenty miles. But with this snow, at least thirty minutes."

Thirty minutes...

I held Lily tighter, constantly checking her temperature.

Hotter and hotter.

"Baby, wake up. Don't sleep..."

Lily opened her eyes groggily. "Mommy, I don't feel good..."

"I know, baby. We're almost there. Just hang on."

She started coughing, a hacking sound that turned her face purple.

I patted her back, tears finally falling.

"Please, faster!"

"I'm going as fast as I can! The roads are slick!" Mark shouted back, tension in his voice.

Lily's coughing got worse. Her breathing sounded like a broken bellows.

"Mommy... I can't breathe..."

I unzipped her coat. Her chest was heaving violently.

Acute pneumonia.

She had it last year. We almost lost her.

"Lily, look at Mommy. Don't close your eyes!"

"Mommy will tell you a story. The one about the little white rabbit..."

Her eyes fluttered, half-closed. Her breathing grew faint.

I banged on the window like a madwoman. "Help! My daughter is dying! Help us!"

But outside, there was nothing but snow and darkness.

The car finally pulled into the service station.

I rushed into the convenience store with Lily. "Is there a doctor? My daughter is dying! We need help!"

The clerk looked terrified. "No... no doctor here..."

"Call 911! Now!"

"The cell tower is down... landlines aren't working..."

My legs gave out. I nearly collapsed.

In my arms, Lily had gone silent.

The owner of the small motel next door rummaged through a first-aid kit and found some children's fever reducers and antibiotics.

"Try giving her these?"

My hands shook so hard I couldn't open the packaging.

Lily lay on my lap, her breath so shallow it seemed like it would stop any second.

I managed to get the medicine in her mouth, but she had no strength to swallow.

"Lily, swallow it, please baby..."

The liquid trickled out of the corner of her mouth.

The owner couldn't watch anymore. "I'll drive you to the county hospital. But the snow is heavy, the roads might be closed..."

"Go! Please! Go now!"

I emptied my wallet and shoved all the cash into his hands. "Please!"

The owner gritted his teeth. "Alright! Let's risk it!"