“Dennis? DENNIS! ¡AYÚDAME! ¡AARÓN!”

In an instant, I’m on my feet, running to the dining room. Wren’s feet slap the floor behind me. This is the second time my mother has called me in the span of five minutes, except the two calls were as opposite as can be. When she wanted me to come downstairs and meet with Wren, her call was warm, loving. This one is full of fear and urgency.

The moment I step into the dining room, I understand why.

Dad is sprawled on the hardwood floor, convulsing. The muscles of his whole body seem to be contracted. Ma is kneeling next to him, her mouth open wide as if she’s wailing inside her head.

And I’m frozen in place.

No. This cannot be happening again.

“¿Que está pasando con el? ¡Ayuda! ¡Que alguien me ayude!” What is happening to him? Help! Somebody help!

My mother’s pain-stricken words make me move. I kneel next to her, but I’m not of any use. I look at my father but can’t come up with a single useful thought. I can’t do anything for him. I’ll have to sit next to my mother and look at my father have another stroke and possibly die in front of me, and I won’t be able to do anything about it.

“What’s going on?” a small voice says behind me.

I turn to find Callie staring at us with eyes wide like saucers, filling with tears when she looks down and says, “Dad?”

Oh God. I’d forgotten that Callie was home. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. She’ll see our dad die too. And still, I can’t do anything about it.

“Look away, Callie,” I plead, but of course she doesn’t. She just stands there, crying more and more until her sobs match my mother’s.

“I called 911,” Wren says as she enters the room.

I never noticed she’d left. I also never thought to call 911. What the fuck is wrong with me?

“The ambulance should be here in five minutes.” Wren analyzes the scene, the only one who’s logical here. When she spots Callie, she automatically rushes to her side. “Here, sweetie, let’s go wait for the ambulance somewhere else.” She leads a devastated Callie away from the dining room while I stay with my mother. I’ve never been more grateful for someone.

After what feels like an eternity, Dad stops convulsing. I didn’t even think to time the seizure. That’s something we’re supposed to do, right? I didn’t think of anything, as a matter of fact. I kneeled there like an idiot, not even finding the right words to comfort my little sister.