Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card

HARD CHOICES

THE NOW

JOSH

288 ¡Vouchers.

The doctor's office felt too small, too quiet. The walls were painted a neutral beige, but they might as well have been closing in on me. The clock on the wall ticked softly, but each second felt like a hammer against my skull.

Laura had been in the hospital for THREE months. Ninety-two days. I knew because I counted them, each one dragging on like a lifetime. Every day, I sat by her bed, talked to her, held her hand, and hoped prayed-for some kind of sign.

It felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest all over again just sitting here, waiting for the doctor to tell me something, anything, that might change the trajectory of this nightmare.

"If it wasn't for Jess and Luke, I wouldn't even know where to start," I muttered to myself, my voice barely audible.

They were home with Asha. My little girl. God, she was so small, so innocent. Too young to understand why her mother wasn't there. Jess had stepped in like a second mother to her, and Luke... well, Luke was Luke. The steady rock we all needed but rarely deserved. The doctor finally spoke, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"So, Joshua. Your wife-Laura-she's been stable for a few

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HARD CHOICES

288 Vouchers

good. There haven't been

to the word

continued, and my stomach dropped. There

want to discuss moving her to the long-term

him, trying to process the words.

who require extensive rehabilitation and monitoring. In Laura's case, she needs physiotherapy to prevent muscle atrophy

the rest of his explanation. The words "long-term wing" echoed in my mind like a

her to die," I said flatly,

recover. The long-term wing is better equipped to handle her needs, and there are things we can do to keep her body healthy and prevent complications. But... we need to be honest about her progress. The medications that kept her sedated have been removed. She needs to wake up on

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HARD CHOICES

is... we

it's not passive waiting. Familiarity can help-things like music, photos, personal touches in her room. Studies

up. They were saying she wasn't going to wake up, and this was their way

on her own yet?" I interrupted, my voice

spontaneous breaths,

My jaw clenched.

discuss end-of-life care

of my seat, my chair