I need to check on Maya, take a shower, change into clothes that don’t smell like motor oil and rain. But I’ll come back this afternoon if you’d like. Bring you something that isn’t hospital food. You don’t have to. I know I don’t have to. I want to. Ethan stood stretching muscles that had gone stiff from too many hours in uncomfortable chairs.

Unless you’d prefer I didn’t. I don’t want to overstep. Victoria was quiet for a moment. clearly wrestling with something internal. When she spoke, her voice was small, uncertain in a way that seemed foreign to her. I’d like it if you came back. If that’s not too much trouble. It’s not trouble at all. Ethan pulled out his phone.

Here, let me give you my number. If you need anything before I get back, just call or text. They exchanged numbers, a strangely mundane gesture given the circumstances of how they’d met. Victoria saved his contact with careful attention, her fingers moving slowly across the phone screen like she was committing something to memory.

Ethan, she called as he reached the door. Thank you for everything. You already thanked me. I’ll probably thank you a hundred more times before this is over. Get used to it. He smiled. I can live with that. Get some rest, Victoria. I’ll see you this afternoon. The drive home felt surreal. the morning commute traffic building around him while his mind remained stuck in that hospital room.

Ethan kept replaying the night, the moment he’d seen Victoria collapsed in the parking lot, the fear in her eyes, the way her hand had gripped his, the relief when Dr. Chen had said she’d be okay. It felt significant in a way that extended beyond the immediate crisis, like something fundamental had shifted in the universe, and he was only beginning to understand the implications. Mrs.

Chen met him at his apartment door, her round face creased with concern. You look terrible. Did you sleep at all? Couple hours in a chair. I’ll survive. Ethan glanced past her to where Maya sat at the kitchen table covered in syrup and chocolate chips exactly as advertised. How was she? Perfect as always. Worried about you, though.

Kept asking questions about the emergency. Mrs. Chen lowered her voice. I told her someone needed help with their car and you stayed to make sure they were okay. Hope that was all right. That’s perfect. Thank you. Ethan pulled out his wallet, but Mrs. Chen waved him off. Don’t insult me.

You know I don’t charge for Maya. That girl’s my favorite person in this building. She patted his arm. Go be with your daughter and take a shower. You smell like a hospital. Maya launched herself at Ethan the moment Mrs. Chen left, her small arms wrapping around his waist with enough force to nearly knock him over.

He hugged her back, breathing in the scent of chocolate chips and strawberry shampoo, letting the simple reality of her presence ground him. “You were gone all night,” Maya said, her voice muffled against his shirt. “Mrs. Chen said someone needed help, but I was worried.” “I know, sweetheart. I’m sorry.” Ethan crouched down to her level, wiping a smear of syrup from her cheek. But everyone’s okay now.

Sometimes grown-ups have emergencies that take longer to fix than we expect. Maya studied his face with those two perceptive green eyes. Was it a car emergency? Started as one. Yeah. But then it turned into something else. Ethan smiled despite his exhaustion. When did you get so smart? I’ve always been smart, Dad.

You just don’t always notice because you’re busy with the garage. She said it matterof factly without accusation. Are you going to go back to help more this afternoon? Yeah. The person I helped last night is still in the hospital and I promised I’d check on them. Is it a boy or a girl? A woman. Her name’s Victoria.

Maya absorbed this information with the seriousness she applied to everything. Is she nice? I think so. Yeah. She’s had a rough time, but she’s strong. like mom was strong. The question hit Ethan squarely in the chest. Mia rarely brought up Sarah unprompted, preferring to let Ethan control the narrative of her mother’s memory. Yeah, baby. Like mom was strong.

Mia nodded, satisfied with this answer. Okay, you should help her then, but you should also shower because Mrs. Chen’s right. You smell weird. Ethan laughed, the sound surprising him. Fair enough. How about you help me make lunch and then I’ll clean up. They spent the next hour together in the kitchen making grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup while Maya chattered about school and her friend Emma’s upcoming birthday party and the book she was reading about space exploration.

Ethan let her voice wash over him, participating in the conversation, but mostly just grateful to be home, to be reminded of why he worked so hard, why he kept pushing forward even when everything felt impossible. After lunch, while Maya settled in with her book, Ethan finally took that shower. He stood under the hot water until it started to run cold, letting the night’s tension drain away with the soap and shampoo.

When he emerged, he felt almost human again, tired still, but functional. His phone showed a text from an unknown number. “This is Victoria. Dr. Chen came by. Everything looks good. They’re saying I can go home tomorrow if there are no complications.” Ethan typed back. That’s great news. I’ll be there around 2:00 if that works for you.

You really don’t have to come back. I’m fine. I know I don’t have to. See you at 2:00. He dressed in clean jeans and a button-down shirt that Maya had insisted he buy last year because you need at least one shirt without holes in it, Dad. Then he sat down with Mia to explain where he was going. So, Victoria’s in the hospital, he said carefully.

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