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.

I said, ‘I’m recovering from an accident.

I am allowed to choose when I see visitors.’ My voice shook, but I managed to finish the sentence.

She hung up.

Noah stirred in his bassinet.

I picked up the soft cloth beside him and whispered, ‘That was hard.’ He blinked at me, unimpressed.

I laughed for the first time in days.

PART 6

Maren’s first update arrived on a Wednesday.