I thought of the stranger at the crash, the man who had pressed his jacket against the broken window and begged me to stay awake.
Family, I realized, was not always the people who claimed the title first.
Sometimes family was whoever acted when it mattered.
The nurse handed me my phone.
My hand shook when I unlocked it.
There were missed calls from my mother.
There were texts from Tessa.
You’re seriously doing this?
You’re embarrassing Mom.
You know how you get.
I stared at the screen until the words blurred.
Then I opened Emily’s message.
Are you okay? I heard there was an accident. Please tell me what hospital.
I typed with one thumb.
Room 12. I need help.
She answered almost immediately.
I’m coming.
Two words.
No questions first.
No accusation tucked inside concern.
I’m coming.
I cried then.
Not loudly.
My ribs would not allow it.
