The next two days were filled with worry, sleepless nights, and long hours in the hospital waiting room. Daniel used every resource he had to make sure Emily received the best treatment.
Lucas never left his side.
The boy slept against Daniel’s shoulder while holding his blue toy car.
“Where’s your dad?” Daniel gently asked one night.
Lucas looked down.
“He left when I was little,” he said quietly. “Mom says we’re a team.”
Daniel smiled softly.
“She’s right.”
On the third morning, Emily’s fever finally broke.
When she opened her eyes, Lucas was sitting beside her holding her hand.
And Daniel stood quietly nearby.
“You saved me,” she whispered.
Daniel shook his head.
“Lucas did,” he replied.
Weeks later, when Emily was finally discharged, Daniel refused to let them return to the streets. Instead, he brought them to a small but comfortable apartment nearby.
“I can’t accept this,” Emily said through tears.
“You can,” Daniel said. “Because I need someone to help manage the kitchen in one of my restaurants. And Lucas needs to go to school.”
Life slowly changed.