The heavy stench of antiseptic cleaners invaded Becca’s nose as she raced down the halls of Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Christian keeping pace beside her. It broke her heart that Ash had been here for almost eleven hours and she didn’t have a clue. She’d ranted the entire drive over about not being notified. Christian patiently explained that Ash’s condition was critical when they brought her to the ER. Doctors had to stabilize her before they could get Ash’s fingerprints and make an ID. Becca tried not to obsess over the fact that Ash had been through all of that alone. She was here now. Becca burst into the ICU waiting room, and spotted her mother first, though she almost didn’t recognize her. Virginia never left home without a full face of makeup and something designer. Today she wore an old housedress, her hair a frizzy mess, no makeup, her face tearstained. Her father was still in his jogging pants, the ones he always slept in, his face unshaven, his mouth turned down in a grimace.

“How is she? How is Ash?” Becca asked. Christian stood beside her, both anxiously waiting for any news.

“Mija, they wouldn’t tell us anything until you got here,” Rafi said.

“I’ll go find the doctor,” Virginia said, turning on her heels and disappearing down the hallway toward the ICU.

Rafi wrapped Becca up in a giant bear hug. “I’m telling you no matter what happens we will get through this.”

She wanted to believe him. She leaned into him and he wrapped his hands around her tightly. “I was supposed to protect her,” Becca whispered. Her father gently patted her back, the way he always did when she had a bad dream.

“No matter how hard we try, things happen that are out of our control. None of this is your fault,” Rafi whispered. Tears streamed down Becca’s face, and she could see the tears in Rafi’s eyes. This was a man who had buried his only son. He didn’t have to say a word. He knew exactly what she was feeling. She hugged him again, wishing she could stay right here. She could hear her mother’s footsteps and saw the doctor out of the corner of her eye. Becca broke away from Rafi and rushed forward. “I’m Becca Ortiz, Ash’s mother. How is… how is she?”