Pauline's POV
"Come here, sweetheart, let's get to the car."
My mother's voice carried that familiar gentle tone, but I caught the underlying tension she tried so hard to mask. She never could hide her worry from me completely. I always sensed it lurking beneath her careful smiles.
"Everything will be fine," she whispered, adjusting my scarf with practiced hands before smoothing my hair away from my face. Despite the bitter cold, her touch remained warm and comforting. "We'll reach the hospital in no time."
Everyone in our community knew about my condition. The weak heart that made me different from other children. My body betrayed me constantly, leaving me breathless when others ran freely. My existence revolved around medical appointments, endless examinations, and bitter pills that left a metallic taste coating my tongue.
Don't cause problems today, I reminded myself silently. No collapsing. No struggling to breathe. No terrifying them again.
