Lying under the stretcher, my mind raced in shock and disbelief. The chaos around me—first responders, flashing lights, urgent voices—felt distant. What weighed heaviest was the betrayal: my own daughter had tried to end my life.

Memories of her childhood—her laughter, milestones, small joys—clashed painfully with the reality before me. Tom’s presence beside me grounded me, his determination a quiet anchor amid the turmoil.

As we were lifted to safety, Emily’s cries cut through the chaos, each one a reminder of the heartbreak we now faced. Yet the professionalism of the authorities, their steady hands and careful words, offered a fragile sense of protection.

In the ambulance, I grasped Tom’s hand and allowed myself a small spark of hope. We had survived the unthinkable. Though our lives had changed forever, we would face what came next together, guided by love, resilience, and the promise of healing.