I stood up before I even realized I was doing it, and I pulled my sister into the hallway.
« El, » I said the second we were out of earshot, « why her? Out of every child in the system, why did you and Henry pick a little girl who’s… »
I couldn’t finish the sentence. I didn’t have to.
I pulled my sister into the hallway.
Ellie looked at me steadily, calmer than I’d ever seen her.
« She just happened to be the child my husband and I chose, » she said. « And we’re going to fight for her life. »
« El, that’s a year. Maybe. »
« Then we fight for the year. »
I didn’t know what to say to that. I just pulled her into a hug and held on tight because whatever courage I had in my 32-year-old body, my sister clearly had 10 times more.
« Then we fight for the year. »
