a's

the silence like a

phi

my chest as I bolted to her room where I left he

ick- and in the dim light

r by the window,her little frame

." she

...hu

econds, anxiety filling my hea

d this

ine just y

..it was clammy and burning up but yet she

yes on me," I whispe

ong? What'

e gasped."I ca

ty washed over me.Thi

Okay. I've g

ady hands and dialed 911.My v

breathe properly. She's bur

ntic red and white. I sat next to her, clutc

ecialist muttered. "Blood pressure

ight?" I asked, trying

an love," the woman said

g to her. Kee

man co

bli

tay here with me, okay?

ways.... and forever..." sh

t. You're go

sed onc

loud - monitors beeping,voices yelling a

and I stood there for a m

omeone sa

ou to wait

ly and stumbled i

Stony chair with my arms wrapped tightly around my knees like a little

ared, clipbo

a Mor

to my feet."

ct acute respiratory distress, possibly made worse by previo

needs," I an

eas

esitated fo

health insuranc

little child. You'll s

treatment - most especially advanced diagnoses and medication

...three hundred and fifty dol

epartment is just down the hall to the l

for me to be honest. I didn't

e her?" I

d guided me t

skin pale against the sheets. An IV snaked into h

as just a whisper b

ked her hair back softl

re sobb

rand new tears." No way,

nowing smile

in...like I couldn't move...like I

st tig

the fire cause

" it wasn't your fau

lady...from t

" The lady was

rawled up

tening but somehow she

ur brains play tricks on us when we'

felt s

gently held her hand and murmured

luorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a warm glow on e

as the

beneath my feet. I was running on luck - no money,a shitty job and an un

passed by m

ou wel

. "Yes. I'm ju

ced but nodded slo

to my face and le

cinated about fires or big sisters who used to dan

re about peo

I

way out of this.e