Because what aired next…
would hit him harder than anything I ever said to his face.
Jason later told someone that he dropped his glass when he heard the anchor say the words “abandoned her.” I imagine the sound of it shattering in his fancy living room, his mother watching beside him, frozen with disbelief.
But he wasn’t prepared for what came next.
The anchor continued:
“And we have a very special announcement. Due to her bravery, dedication, and sacrifice, Ava Miller has been selected as one of the recipients of the State Medal of Civilian Valor.”
The audience erupted in applause.
Jason’s jaw must have hit the floor.
I knew nothing about this until a week earlier, when a government official contacted me quietly. I thought he was joking until he showed credentials. He said my actions during the hospital fire—when I rescued two elderly patients while still recovering from childbirth—were being formally recognized.
I had told no one except my best friend.
The segment continued with interviews from doctors, patients, and coworkers. They spoke about my compassion, my courage, my strength.
Then came the part I knew would rip Jason apart.