They were changed by what they repeatedly chose afterward.
Faith tugged on Mark’s hand.
“Daddy, come.”
He immediately bent down.
“Where are we going?”
“To see the fish.”
A large aquarium stood at the end of the hallway.
Grace grabbed his other hand.
Lily ran after them.
Mark looked over his shoulder.
“You coming?”
Emily smiled.
“In a minute.”
Dr. Patel stood beside her.
“They look wonderful.”
“They are.”
“And you?”
Emily watched Mark kneel in front of the aquarium while three little girls pointed excitedly at the fish.
“I’m good.”
Dr. Patel smiled.
“I remember you asking me if they would live.”
Emily’s eyes filled.
“So do I.”
“And look at them now.”
Faith was attempting to count the fish.
“One, two, seven, purple…”
Emily laughed.
“Very advanced mathematics.”
Dr. Patel touched her arm.
“You were very brave that day.”
Emily shook her head gently.
“I was scared.”
“Those things are not opposites.”
Emily looked at her daughters.
Perhaps they weren’t.
That evening, after the girls were asleep, Emily sat on the back porch.
Mark joined her with two mugs of tea.
He handed one over.
“What are you thinking about?”
“The nurse.”
“What nurse?”
“The one who asked you if I was home.”
Mark groaned softly.
“I still dream about that question.”
Emily smiled.
“What did you think when she said it?”
“That my entire life had disappeared.”
“And had it?”
Mark considered.
“No.”
He took her hand.
“I think the life I assumed would always wait for me had disappeared.”
Emily leaned against him.
“And what did you find instead?”
Mark looked through the kitchen window.
Three tiny backpacks sat beside the door for preschool the next morning.
Grace’s was green.
Lily’s yellow.
Faith’s lavender.
He smiled.
“A life I have to choose every day.”
Emily rested her head against his shoulder.
Inside, one of the girls called sleepily.
“Mommy?”
Emily began to stand.
Mark touched her arm.
“I’ve got her.”
She watched him disappear through the door.
A minute later, she heard his voice upstairs.
Soft.
Patient.
Present.
