I avoided running into them and headed back alone.
By the time I got back to the hospital, Lucas was already doing much better. His fever had broken completely, and he just needed two more days of IV fluids and regular dressing changes.
The person I was really worried about was my mom.
I sat down beside her hospital bed, but she was the one putting on a brave face. She squeezed my hand gently and kept urging me to go home and get some rest.
"Stella, head back early, okay?" she said.
"Mom, I am not tired."
My mom shook her head. "If you collapse too, there really will not be anyone left."
A lump instantly formed in my throat.
In her eyes, our little family of three—her, me, and Lucas—was already enough.
"Okay," I whispered.
After checking in with the doctor, I took Lucas home with
