Inside, two small boys lay in separate beds. Lucas slept curled toward the wall. Aaron lay awake, eyes large and tired. Medical bottles lined the nightstand. Toys sat untouched on shelves.
Rebecca sat beside Aaron’s bed. “Hello. What is your name?”
“Aaron,” he whispered. “That is Lucas.”
“Nice to meet you. I am Rebecca.”
Aaron studied her carefully. “Are you a doctor?”
“No. I take care of children.”
He frowned. “Other caregivers left.”
Rebecca’s heart tightened. “Why do you think they left?”
He shrugged weakly. “Maybe we are too much trouble.”
Rebecca leaned closer. “I do not leave children because things are hard.”
“Why not?”
“Because children who need help deserve someone who stays.”
Aaron blinked, then whispered, “You are strange.”
Rebecca smiled. “I have been called worse.”
Lucas stirred and opened his eyes, staring blankly. Rebecca greeted him softly, but he did not respond. His distant gaze told her everything she needed to know.
At the doorway, Rebecca lowered her voice to Daniel. “They need someone present. Someone watching carefully.”
Daniel nodded slowly. “Can you be that person?”
“I want to try,” she said.
He extended his hand. “You start tomorrow.”