“Don’t be nervous. We will soon see what’s what.” My mom pats my hand as she leads the way into her clinic and turns on all the lights quickly. Illuminating the empty building with a ‘blink, blink’ of strip lighting that hurts my eyes. I can’t speak, so numb with shock, unsure how to feel, and Arrick is equally silent.

He went and got her for me. After the tests, we didn’t know what else to feel or think. She came immediately. It was surreal and hard to tell her ...