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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10:21

HARD CHOICES

288 Vouchers

been any infections, and that's a positive

clinging to the

he continued, and my stomach dropped. There was always a

improvement. And we want to discuss moving her to the long-term wing of

blinked at him, trying to

It's a specialized care unit. It's designed for patients who require extensive rehabilitation and monitoring. In Laura's case, she needs physiotherapy to prevent muscle atrophy and ensure her body remains strong

of his explanation. The words "long-term wing" echoed

for her to die," I said

at all," he replied quickly, his tone measured but firm. "This is about giving her the best chance to 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

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HARD CHOICES

saying is... we just

a sense, yes. But it's not passive waiting. Familiarity can help-things like music, photos, personal touches

spiraled. They were giving up. They were saying she wasn't going to wake up, and

own yet?" I

few spontaneous breaths, but

My jaw clenched.

can also discuss

seat, my