Chapter 2: Picking Up the Pieces
Chapter 2: Picking Up the Pieces
That night, dinner never happened.
Instead, I ordered soup from our favorite neighborhood restaurant.
While we waited, I carried Leo to the emergency pediatric clinic.
The doctor confirmed it was a severe viral infection.
"He'll recover," she said gently.
"But one adult can't care for a sick toddler twenty-four hours a day without breaking down."
Those words stayed with me.
When we arrived home, Emily had fallen asleep on the couch before finishing her cup of tea.
Still wearing yesterday's clothes.
I covered her with a blanket.
Then I quietly cleaned the kitchen.
I washed every dish.
Folded the laundry.
Put away the groceries.
Took the dog outside.
At nearly two in the morning, I finally sat beside my wife.
She woke slowly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered automatically.
I stared at her.
"For what?"
"I couldn't keep everything together."
I felt my heart ache.
"You were never supposed to do everything alone."
Tears filled her eyes again.
"I kept waiting for someone to help."
"I know."
I kissed her forehead.
"And from now on, you won't have to wait."
The next morning, I called my manager.
"I'm taking family leave."
There was silence.
Then he simply answered,
"Go be with your family. Work can wait."
For the next two weeks...
My world became medicine schedules...
Laundry...
Midnight fevers...
May you like
Storybooks...
And holding my wife's hand whenever she needed reminding that she wasn't alone anymore.
