He nodded once.

“Why?”

“Because I said I was calling you.”

The second paramedic looked away for half a second. Not because he didn’t care. Because some things are hard to look at and still do your job.

Outside, a neighbor’s porch light came on. Then another. The house that had seemed so quiet was waking up around us.

At the hospital intake desk, the nurse asked for Lily’s full name, date of birth, known medications, emergency contacts. I gave them what I knew. I gave them Brian’s name.