Melanie fidgeted as Darius drove them to her parents’ home. Their visit with Ava had ended when the little girl fell asleep while they watched a movie. It was easy for them to see that while Ava seemed to feel well, she was declining quickly. The little girl had been full of energy when she first arrived, and now she was sleeping most of the time.
“Are you sure that you are up to this?” Darius asked, kissing the back of her hand.
“Yes. I was hoping being around Ava would make me feel better, but she is going downhill so fast that it made me sad instead of happy, the way our visits have before,” Melanie replied.
“If you are not up to doing this tonight, your father will understand.”
“I know,” Melanie sighed. "But I want to get this over with—not just for me but for everyone who has to
