No… no… no, you're lying!" Lena woke up screaming, her voice raw with terror. She looked around frantically, her eyes wide and unseeing, clearly not registering where she was or what was happening.
The panic in her gaze was enough to send a sharp jolt through me. I stood up immediately, the newspaper I had been reading slipping from my fingers and falling forgotten to the floor.
"My baby, my baby!" she cried out, her voice breaking as fear consumed her. "Please don't hurt my child!"
I crossed the distance between us in seconds, grabbing her and pulling her into my arms. She struggled wildly at first, her hands pushing against me as though I were her enemy, but I held on, one hand cradling the back of her head while the other gently patted her back in a soothing rhythm.
"It's okay, Lena. I'm here. You're safe now, calm down," I whispered softly, trying to steady both her and myself.
