Dr. Martinez POVThe letter from the Medical Board sat on my kitchen table like a bomb. I'd been staring at it for twenty minutes, unable to open it.

"Mommy, why do you look so sad?" Sofia appeared in the doorway, clutching her stuffed rabbit. At nine years old, she was too perceptive for her own good.

"I'm just tired, mija." I forced a smile. "Come here."

She climbed into my lap, her small arms wrapping around my neck. "Is it because of the bad people? The ones who hurt that lady?"

My chest ...