“I don’t know, sweetheart,” Kirsten says softly. “But she’s very sick.”
Laney doesn’t respond. There’s nothing left to say. We’re all painfully aware of how serious this is, even if none of us are ready to accept it.
The next hour slips by in heavy silence, broken only by the quiet comings and goings of the medical staff. They check Molly’s vitals, monitor her machines, and make quiet notes on their charts. But there’s still no sign of improvement. If anything, things are getting worse. Her temperature has climbed even higher since the last round of observations, another grim sign that the antibiotics aren’t working.
I push up from my chair, my muscles stiff and aching after sitting in the same spot for hours. “I’m going to stretch my legs,” I say, glancing at Laney. “Will you be okay for a bit?”
She gives me a small nod.
“I’ll stay with her,” Kirsten offers gently. “Take your time.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, grateful that she’s here. “I won’t be long.”
I step out of the room, quietly pulling the door closed behind me. Leaning back against the wooden frame, I let out a long, heavy breath, trying to steady myself.
“Mr. Murphy?”
I open my eyes to find Dr. Lawson standing in front of me. His expression is grave, and dread coils in my stomach.
“Can I have a word with you and Laney in the relatives' room?” he asks quietly.
I give a tight nod, unable to find my voice.
Once Laney, Kirsten, and I are inside, he closes the door gently behind us.
“Please, have a seat,” he says.
We lower ourselves onto the worn leather sofa, Laney seated between Kirsten and me, her hands clasped tightly in ours. My stomach churns as Dr. Lawson perches on the arm of the chair opposite us. He leans in slightly, his expression heavy with sorrow.
“Despite the IV antibiotics we’ve administered over the past several hours,” he begins, his voice gentle, “Molly’s condition has continued to decline. We’ve done everything we can, but the infection is too severe. Her organs are starting to fail. At this point... all we can do is make her comfortable.” He pauses as if the next words might somehow soften the blow.
“I’m so very sorry.”
The sound Laney makes is raw, a sharp cry that cuts straight through me. I pull her into my arms as she breaks down, sobbing into my chest. My own tears fall silently as I hold her close. No matter how much I prepared myself for this, I’d still hoped that Molly would find a way to pull through. After six years of fighting, it feels unbearably cruel that an infection is what’s finally claiming her life.
Kirsten speaks quietly with Dr. Lawson, but the words blur in my ears. All I can focus on is Laney falling apart in my arms. I wish I had something to say that could ease her pain, but I know there’s nothing. No words will make this better.
Laney was right. Molly gave up, and I can’t help but feel responsible for that.
Ashlyn
It’s late evening,and after spending the entire day staring at my phone, I’m drained. I sent Ben a message earlier, hoping to hear something, but I haven’t. He hasn’t even read it. The worry is eating me alive, and even though I’m exhausted, I know I’m not going to be able to sleep.
After locking up my apartment, I turn off the lights and head for my bedroom. I climb under the comforter, staring at the ceiling as my mind races, replaying every possible scenario over and over. I’m so deep in thought that when my phone suddenly rings on the nightstand, I jump.
Rolling over, I snatch it up, my pulse pounding when I see Ben’s name glowing on the screen. I answer in a rush, pressing the phone to my ear.
“Hello?” I say, breathless.
“Hey. It’s me,” Ben replies. His voice is tight and strained.
I hesitate, bracing myself. “How’s Molly?” I ask carefully.
There’s silence on the other end. I pull the phone away to check if the call dropped, but it’s still connected. When I bring it back to my ear, I hear Ben let out a long, heavy sigh.
“She’s gone, Ash,” he says quietly. The grief in his voice is unmistakable; raw and devastating.
I inhale sharply, tears stinging my eyes as my chest tightens painfully.
