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

NEW BEGINNING

JOSH

PRESENT DAY

The hospital halls were too bright. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as I carried Asha in her car seat, her little rainbow blanket draped over her. She babbled softly, clutching her stuffed elephant, blissfully unaware of the heaviness weighing

on me.

I nodded to the nurses at the palliative long-term care wing as I entered. They gave me small, sympathetic smiles-the kind that cut deeper because they reminded me that this was my reality. This was Laura's reality. Room 308. Laura's room.

I hesitated at the door, glancing down at Asha. "Okay, baby girl," 1 whispered, more to myself than to her. "Let's go see Mommy."

I pushed the door open and stepped into the room. It didn't look like a hospital room anymore, not really. Jess, Luke, and I had spent hours transforming it into something that felt more like home.

Laura's favorite colors-soft greens and blues-adorned the walls in subtle touches, from the curtains to the throw pillows on the small couch in the corner. Her easel stood by the window, angled just so to catch the natural light. The painting she'd been working on before the accident sat there, unfinished but beautiful-a hazy sunset over a calm ocean. 0.00%

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NEW BEGINNING

paint to-instrumentals, mellow beats, and the occasional old-school

Laura's bed. She looked so peaceful, almost like she was just asleep. Her dark hair was brushed and braided, and her face still had that same quiet beauty that had always taken my breath away. But the stillness of her body-the

floor and gently lifted her out. She squirmed in my arms, her tiny fingers reaching for me. "Hold

at Laura's arm. My chest ached as I watched them together-my daughter, full of life, and Laura, frozen in this unending

on my knees. The

even know where to start. I just... I'm sorry. For everything. For not being enough to keep you safe. For not knowing how to handle this." I glanced at Asha, who had started to settle,

"More than you'll ever know. But I... I need time. I need time to

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NEW HER

and right now, I'm not doing a very

her hand, trying to steady myself. "I promise I'll be back for you. I swear, Laura. I just...

my vision as I leaned forward, resting my forehead against her hand. "I promise to be the best father I can for Asha. I'll do everything I can to make sure she knows how amazing you are. I'll tell

deep, shaky breath. "I'll pull myself together, Laura. For you. For Asha. And when I do,

lingering there as if I could somehow transfer all

up, cradling her against

looking down at Laura, trying to memorize every detail of her face,

I whispered one last time, my voice

the room, Asha

didn't dare look back.

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