Serena's eyes widened in horror. "No… no, no, no…" She shook her harder now, tears spilling uncontrollably. "Mama, open your eyes! Please! Don't do this to me!"
Alexander knelt beside her and reached for Mama's wrist. The moment his fingers touched her skin, he knew something was terribly wrong.
His chest tightened as gus eyes drifted to Serena. How could she take this news?
"Serena…" he started softly.
She snapped her head up at him, her eyes bloodshot and wild. "She's just sleeping, right? Tell me she's sleeping." Her voice cracked. "Tell me!"
Alexander swallowed painfully. He couldn't lie to her.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "She's gone."
The words shattered her. She couldn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it.
A broken, gut-wrenching scream tore out of Serena's throat. She collapsed over Mama's body, clutching her tightly as if sheer will could bring her back.
"Mama! Please don't leave me!" she sobbed. "You said you'd always be here. You said I wasn't alone!"
