I Begged My Parents to Care for My Newborn After a Truck Accident. At 2 A.M., the Uncle They Dismissed Walked Into My Hospital Room.

Melissa glanced toward the hallway, then back at me.

“Are you expecting anyone else?”

“No,” I said.

The door opened a few inches.

Daniel stood outside in a navy overcoat, his hair damp from the rain, one hand tucked uncertainly around a bouquet of white tulips wrapped in brown paper.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“I know it’s late.

The front desk said I could come up for a few minutes.”