I didn’t make a conscious decision to move; it was more like my body acted on its own. Years of courtroom exposure had taught me to recognize when situations were about to escalate, but nothing could have prepared me for the visceral, maternal instinct that overtook my senses at that moment. A part of my brain registered Patricia’s dismissive statement, but it was quickly drowned out by the overwhelming need to protect and tend to Lily.
In those critical moments, logic melded with emotion. My training as a lawyer kicked in even as I scrambled to assess Lily’s condition. I remembered once reading testimony from a medical expert detailing the importance of keeping a victim still to prevent further injury, especially after a head injury. I applied what I’d learned, resisting the primal urge to scoop her into my arms and cradle her.
James, whose calm under pressure had been one of the qualities I admired most about him, was already on the phone with emergency services, conveying the details with a precision that only heightened the stark contrast between the chaos of the scene and the steady hum of his voice.
