Chapter 6 : The Day She Said Goodbye I didn't go back to the waiting area right away . My legs took me outside the hospital building , where the sun blazed like it had no idea my world was falling apart . The heat did nothing to chase away the chill inside my chest . Celine's words rang in my ears like cruel lullabies : " He'll be calling me Mommy , too . " The audacity . The cruelty . The threat . I closed my eyes and took a deep breath , steadying myself before heading back up to the pediatric wing . I had to be strong . For Liam . For the only reason I was still breathing after everything Zach had done . When I reached the hallway outside Dr. Beltran's office , the door was already open . Liam was sitting on the cushioned bench , swinging his legs , humming to himself like nothing was wrong in the world . " Hey , love , " I said softly , kissing his forehead . He grinned . " Done already . Dr. B said my lungs sound better ! " I knelt in front of him , cupping his face . " That's amazing . I'm proud of you . " He smiled wider . " Can we get ice cream before we go home? " I laughed , brushing his hair back . " Only if you promise not to tell Dr. B. " " Promise ! " We walked hand in hand toward the parking lot . I could feel the tension loosening from my shoulders just being near him . But peace , I would learn , never stayed long . We had just reached the pedestrian lane across the main driveway when I heard the screech of tires . A flash of silver . A scream - not mine , someone else's - and then chaos . It all happened too fast . One second Liam was next to me . The next , he was thrown like a ragdoll . " LIAM ! " My knees hit the asphalt before I even realized I was down . People shouted . A nurse was screaming . A car had slammed into the hospital signpost , smoke curling from its hood . Time blurred , slowed . I crawled to him , my palms scraping across the concrete . He was still breathing . His tiny chest moved . Blood streaked his temple , a gash splitting his eyebrow . One of his shoes had flown off . His arm bent at an angle it shouldn't . " Call an ambulance ! " I shrieked , though we were already at a hospital . " Please , somebody help - my son- ! " Doctors and nurses rushed out , someone pulled me back as they hoisted Liam onto a stretcher . " I'm his mother ! " I screamed , trying to follow . " Let me in , I need to - he needs me ! " But a firm hand held me back . And that's when I saw him . Zach . On the far end of the sidewalk . Rushing in . His eyes wide , his suit half - wrung , like he had just dropped everything to get here . " What happened ? " he barked at the nurse . " Is that my son ?! " I didn't answer . Couldn't . It was Celine who appeared beside him - calm , cold , timed . She placed a hand on Zach's arm , pulling him back with measured grace . " How did you know it was coming ? " I whispered , my voice shaking . Celine tilted her head , eyes glinting like glass . " You think we'd let you keep walking him into danger ? " " What ... ? " But she was already turning away . Later , in the waiting room , drenched in sweat and dried tears , a social worker came . She looked apologetic , but firm . " Ms. Arianne Hatton , there's concern about your ability to ensure Liam's safety . Given the severity of the incident , and the pending custody petition , the court has ruled for a temporary emergency transfer . " " What do you mean ? " My throat dried up . " My son is going home with me . " The social worker shook her head slowly . " No , ma'am . For now , Liam will be released into the custody of his father ." " No , no , you can't - this was an accident ! I was with him ! I was holding his hand ! " " I'm sorry , " she said , her voice soft . " But there are questions about supervision . About judgment . There was a claim made ... that you were distracted , arguing outside the hospital . That you stormed off . " My eyes widened . " That's not true ! Let me see my son , " I begged , voice cracking . " Please - just let me say goodbye . " " Get lost , Arianne ! " Celine muttered , walking past me with a venomous smile plastered on her lips . The next day , I packed in silence . Every fold of clothing , every zip of the suitcase felt heavier than it should . I didn't cry . I'd cried enough . Losing Liam's custody left a hollow in my chest that no amount of tears could fill . I slipped his drawing into my passport - a stick - figure version of us under a crooked sun . It was the only piece of him I could take . At the airport , I kept my head down . The crowds blurred around me . I was just another woman flying away from something she couldn't fix . At the gate , I turned on my phone one last time . Five missed calls . Three texts . Zach : Where are you ? Zach : Let's talk , Arianne . Zach : Don't do anything stupid . I stared at the screen for a second then calmly blocked his number . And as the plane took off , I pulled the SIM out of my phone and broke it into pieces . " Goodbye , Zachary ... " Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!