The door swung open, shattering the tense silence that hung in the hospital room. Andy and Emma burst in, their small feet pounding the floor as they ran toward the bed, with Ed close behind. "Mommy! Mommy!" they cried out, their voices tinged with urgency and concern.
Emma's eyes went wide with fear the moment she saw Emily lying in bed, pale and still, with an IV hooked to her arm. Tears instantly welled up in her big brown eyes and spilled over. "Mommy," she sobbed, her voice trembling as she clung to Emily's arm, desperately trying to wake her up. The tears streamed down her little face, unchecked, as she held on tight, unwilling to let go.
Andy stood beside her, his own tears flowing silently down his cheeks. He reached for Emily's other hand, holding it gently, as if afraid he might hurt her. Though he was trying to be brave, his quiet sobs betrayed the depth of his fear and sorrow.
