KatieI drag my feet into the house. A sense of relief washes over me. I’m finally home. The image of my family in the hospital flashes through my mind, and guilt washes over me. I mentally chant to myself that they were in the wrong, not me. I take a moment, even though I had just sat in my car for several minutes trying to clear my mind and it hasn’t worked.The smell of food drifts through the air and pulls me towards the kitchen. Casper’s usual giggles are usually absent. I glance down at my watch. Shoot. It is much later than I realized it is. Everyone must have eaten, and Casper should be in bed already. My heart twists. I don’t get to tuck him in, but this isn’t the first time. It is only the first time since we moved here. I take a deep breath and fill my lungs with the faint smell of food. As I approach the kitchen, I call out, “What is that delicious smell? Did you cook something again for supper?”My steps falter when I walk through the doorway and find one

I walk out of the ER and into the corridor. Exhaustion takes over me, and my feet feel like they are made of cement now. One of the perks of being busy is I don’t have time to think about anything except for my ER patients and what I need to do to get them healthy again. I really appreciate it. I walk down the hall, heading for the small vending machine around the corner in the waiting room, when a young nurse, Emily, trots up to me. “You aren’t going to eat anything from there, are you?” She points in the general direction of the machines. I nod. “Yes. I’m too tired to go anywhere else, and I can’t leave the hospital. You know, the minute I do, more patients will come in. I only have a few minutes, and I forgot to pack myself some snacks when I left the house this morning. I had other things on my mind.” My voice trails off with the last sentence.My mind was consumed with those stupid messages. I still can’t bring myself to look at them, but I’ve felt my phone buzzing

I stand a safe distance from my father’s room and stare in through the open door at him, still unconscious in bed, and my mother, pulling the sheets up higher on my father. Strangely, my brother hasn’t been staying in the room since his altercation with Evan and Mark, but he visits frequently. I don’t know what the two said to him after I left. No matter how many times I ask them, they won’t say anything. Izzy steps up beside me. “How is he doing?”I sigh. “The same. I was hoping he will wake up soon. I’ll feel better once he is awake.”A heaviness weighs down on my shoulders. She nudges my arm. “How about you?”I shrug my shoulders. “The morning sickness has been getting better, and I haven’t needed the medicine much in the last few days. I’m crossing my fingers and hope I can stop taking it soon. The rest of the pregnancy should go smoother when I don’t have to worry about getting sick all the time.”She shakes her head. “I know all that. I’m wondering how you are hol

I flip the lid of the ice cream tub off and dive my spoon into it as my eyes drift across the park. Families are scattered about, while the soft laughter of kids floats in the air. Pride beams from the parents’ faces as they watch their kids scurry around. Why couldn’t I have that? Just once in my life, I want what everyone else has. My gaze moves to Izzy and Casper, who are playing on the swing. Casper’s happiness is evident with his big grin, showing off his deep dimples, and his non-stop giggles while Izzy pushes him higher. The image warms my aching heart. I have promised myself long ago I would never let my kids suffer like I did growing up. My brother is the golden child and I’m just the daughter they never wanted. No matter what I do, I will never be good enough for them. My brother, on the other hand, can do nothing right, but he was still their perfect child. A lone tear spills over the corner of my eye and slides down my cheek. I shove another spoonful of ice cre

I stare across the hospital bed at the doctor. Her words barely register in my brain, except for a few. Katie needs rest and absolutely no stress or she could lose the baby. If she doesn’t rest, she could also potentially lose her life too. The medical terms sound foreign to me, but I trust Evan and Izzy will explain it to me later. My chest tightens. “Do whatever you have to in order to save them both? But if it comes to the point of having to pick one, save my wife first. She probably won’t be happy with my choice, but I’ll deal with her later. I need her to survive.” Not only me, but our son also needs her to survive. My pain and struggles are woven through each word as my voice wavers and almost cracks. The doctor nods. “I understand.” She looks down at Katie, who still looks extremely pale, but she has gained back some of her color. “I’m sure she will understand too, but I agree with you. She might not like it initially.”My gaze shifts down to my unconscious wife