Only then did Sophie cry. She reached both arms out to me. “Mommy! Mommy!”
Derek looked at his daughter. Then at me. The car keys sat in his hand, the streetlight hitting them so bright it hurt to look at.
“Sophie…” He said her name. Nothing else came out.
“Derek,” I said, looking at him. “Take me out of here. Bring Sophie.”
He didn’t answer. He stood in the doorway like a tree grown into the frame, roots in June’s hands.
June smiled. “Son, your wife is burning up. If you’re not taking her to the hospital, what are you standing there for?”
Derek’s mouth opened.
No words came out.Later that night, I woke up once. My throat felt like a lump of coal was buried in it. Even swallowing hurt. Derek sat in the chair by the bed, his phone screen lighting up his face. He wasn’t asleep.
