First published 2025
Sarah sits by her mother's hospital bed as machines monitor each labored breath. The cancer has spread, and the doctors have done what they can. Through the long hours before dawn, Sarah recalls fragments of their shared past while her mother drifts between sleep and brief moments of clarity. Her sister calls from across the country, unable to make the flight in time. Sarah holds her mother's hand and watches for signs of pain or peace. The night stretches on, marked by the soft footsteps of nurses and the distant sounds of a hospital that never sleeps. As morning light filters through the window, Sarah must confront what it means to let go of the person who shaped her most.
Genres: literary-fiction, medical, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, grief, medical
Setting: Hospital
Period: Night
Paperback · HACHETTE INTL
Content warnings: death, terminal-illness