It was mid-morning as Zach and Thea pulled into the Spring Haven Hospice Center parking lot. Zach was shutting off the engine when Darius and Melanie pulled into the parking space beside his truck. He could tell from Melanie’s expression that she felt the same as he did. None of them wanted to see Ava decline, even though they had known it would happen.
Zach and Darius exited their vehicles and walked to the passenger side to open the doors for Thea and Melanie. Zach was too focused on Thea to notice that Darius and Melanie had joined them beside his truck. Melanie cleared her throat, making Zach turn around.
Melanie hugged Thea and asked, “How are you feeling?”
“I feel fine, or I was until your dad called about Ava,” Thea said with a sad smile.
“We all feel that way,” Darius told her.
