“I am serving an emergency petition for temporary custody and a petition for involuntary psychological evaluation,” he said.

He held out the papers.

Laura gasped behind me, her hand gripping my shoulder so hard my collarbone ached.

My heart rate monitor spiked, the beeps coming faster and louder.

“On what grounds?” Victoria asked, taking the papers with a sharp snap of her wrist.

“On the grounds that Mrs. Parker is mentally unstable,” the lawyer said.

“That is a lie,” Laura shouted. “She just survived a hemorrhage!”

“The petition details a history of emotional instability,” the lawyer continued, his voice completely devoid of emotion. “Compounded by the severe trauma of her recent emergency hysterectomy.”

He looked at me, his eyes cold and analytical.

“The petitioners believe she is suffering from severe postpartum psychosis and is a danger to herself and the child.”

The words felt like physical blows.

My hand flew to my stomach, where the thick bandage covered my vertical incision.

They were using my trauma against me.

They were using the loss of my uterus, the very surgery that saved my life, to paint me as a madwoman.