Chapter 2

Darien woke up to the sun shining on him through a window in a white room. He was in a bed, but it wasn't his because it didn't have the racecars on it like his did at home. He tried to sit up, but pain went through his body so he fell back down on the bed. "You're awake," a man's voice said. Darien turned towards the voice and saw a doctor and a nurse standing over him. "Can you talk?" Darien simply nodded. "What's your name?"

"Darien," he said quietly.

"Do you remember anything?" Darien shook his head. "You were in a car accident with your parents. Obviously you've survived. You have a few broken ribs and a broken arm…"

The doctor droned on about what was wrong with him as Darien's memory came back to him. They spent the day at the amusement park and were on their way to the mountains. He heard screaming and woke up to his mother holding his hand singing to him. "Where are my Mommy and Daddy?" Darien interrupted frantically.

"I'm sorry Darien," the doctor said in a monotone voice. "Your father was dead at the scene and your mother died on the way to the hospital. As soon as you're fully healed, we're sending you to an orphanage."

Darien sat on the bed in shock. Daddy… dead? Mommy… died? I'm going away? Darien tried to process everything, but was having a hard time as tears formed in his eyes.

"I have to make my rounds," the doctor said. "Nurse Franklin will take care of you." He exited the room and shut the door behind him.

"Hey Darien," Nurse Franklin said gently taking a seat next to him on his bed. "You can call me Nurse Jennifer. Are you all right?" He was sitting very still and suddenly began shaking.

"What about Mary Grace?" he finally said. "Mommy had a baby inside her."

Nurse Jennifer looked at Darien sadly as realization dawned on her and thought of her own infant daughter born 3 months ago. "Mary Grace went to heaven," she said. Darien continued shaking and it was scaring her. "Darien, it's ok to be sad. You don't have to…" She was interrupted when Darien impulsively hugged her and wept bitterly into her chest. It broke her heart to hear him cry so sadly. She had a son his age and could barely stand to imagine if he was in this boy's position. She felt a connection once she returned Darien's hug. "That's right," she said softly. "Let it all out." She continued holding him and whispering words of comfort until his crying got quieter. "I have to check on other patients, Darien," she said standing up.

"No!" Darien yelled as more tears filled his eyes. "Please… don't leave me."

Tears were filling Nurse Jennifer's own eyes as she stood in the doorway. "I'll be back as soon as I can." She exited and closed the door on Darien crying into his pillow.

*******

Jennifer Franklin sat at home thinking about Darien a few nights later. "Mommy!" she looked up and found her blonde 5 year old son running towards her. She pulled him into her lap, but he noticed that something was wrong. "Mommy, are you ok?"

She smiled sadly at him. "I'm fine, Andrew. It's just been a long day. Did you brush your teeth?" He nodded. "Very good. Go on up to your room. Daddy and I will be up in a moment to tuck you in."

"Ok Mommy," he said hugging her. "I love you."

"I love you too honey." Andrew leaped from her lap and ran off.

"Hey you," a man said kissing Jennifer on the cheek. "Are you all right?"

She stood up and took his hand. "It was a long day at work." She walked with him up the stairs and stopped in front of their son's room. "Jacob, how would you feel about adopting?"

Jacob looked at her funny. "We have two children already. Why would you want to adopt?"

Jennifer sighed. "There's a 5 year old boy at the hospital I take care of. His name is Darien and he was in a car accident with his parents. They didn't make it and they're going to send him to an orphanage once he heals. It's so sad to watch him because he's so lonely and scared. I don't think sending him away will help him. He needs someone to love him. Those other doctors and nurses treat him so horribly. I know I'm not supposed to get attached to any of the patients, but I can't help but feel connected to him somehow."

Jacob squeezed his wife's hand reassuringly. "If that's how you feel about it, then we'll do it. I'll get on it first thing in the morning."

Jennifer smiled and hugged him. "Thank you so much." A baby started crying across the hall. "Lizzie's up."

"We can get her and then tuck Andy in." They walked towards Lizzie's room and away from Andrew who had heard the entire conversation his parents had. He had sweet dreams about having a new friend.