Emily was sitting on a stool, playing her guitar at a local children's hospital. The kids were smiling, and clapping while she played. One of the children, Avyanna, was one of her step-children.

She was with Miranda and Andy, and she couldn't be happier. It was a lot better than her relationship with her ex-husband. Emily divorced her husband three years ago, and they had previously tried to get pregnant.

But nothing worked, and they eventually gave up trying. It caused them to become distant with each other, and they divorced the year after. Cassidy, Caroline, and Avyanna were the closest she could get to having her own children.

But the twins had moved out of the house, and were living with their boyfriends. But she was still there, if they needed her.

Emily strumed the last cord, and pressed her fingers on the strings to silence them. Avyanna clapped, and Emily finally put her guitar down. She had been playing for a while, and the children looked like they were having fun listening to the music.

But she had been playing for an hour, the kids were sent back to their rooms, and Emily had wheeled Avyanna into her room, because the girl had recently lost her leg, but the cancer had spread to a whole different part of her body.

She got her in bed, and Avyanna smiled at her. Emily ran her hand over the girl's bald head. "I love you, Emmy" Emily smiled, and kissed the girl's head, and put her arm around her.

"I love you too," She said,

"Can you sing?" The girl asked, and Emily started singing softly. Avyanna smiled, she looked up to Emily. Her step-mom was still trudging along, even though both of her parents had passed away recently.

Avyanna knew that Emily had been devastated, and it made her sad. She didn't want Emily to be sad. And it made her sad to think that her step-mother, that she adored, was having a hard time.

She felt Emily shift, and she laid her head back in her lap, and actually fell asleep.

…

Avyanna had woken up again, she was sad that her parents weren't there yet. But she was happy that Emily was still with her. But she was getting something to eat. Emily was eating again, and was feeling a lot better.

But the stress of everything was getting to her. Avyanna was diagnosed with cancer in her right leg, and finding out that it had spread to another part of her body had scared all three of the women.

And the fact that Emily's parents had died two months before, was stressful as well. Although it wasn't sudden in the least. They had been sick, and hadn't been able to get around very well.

She went to the bathroom, and splashed water on her face. She was glad that she took her makeup off, after about two hours of just sitting there.

She drove to the quickest fast food restaurant she could, and got back with food for the both of them.

Avyanna smiled again, and they ate quietly. Emily was wondering where Miranda and Andy were. She had been with Avyanna for five hours. She was glad she took the day off of work.

5:00pm

Emily called Andy, they still hadn't arrived, and Emily was wondering what was going on, and why they didn't tell her they would be late.

The call went to voicemail, Emily hung up then tried Miranda next, but she didn't answer either. Emily sighed, jumping when her phone rang. The caller ID said that it was Andy.

"Andy, where are you? Your daughter wants to see you." Emily started

"This is a police officer," A guy on the other side of the phone said.

"Where is Andrea?"

"Her and Miranda have been in a horrible car accident."

"Are they alright?!" Emily screamed,

"Andrea is dead, and Miranda is badly hurt." Emily gasped, and covered her mouth with her hand. Sobs escaped from her, and her knees felt weak. She sat down on a chair outside the room.

She couldn't believe it, she told Avyanna that she would be right back, she drove as fast as she could to the hospital where Miranda was being treated, and rushed into the room.

Emily went over to Miranda who was lying in the hospital bed.

"Emily," She said, and Emily grabbed her hand. "I need to talk to you," Emily let out a cry, and Miranda continued. "Emily, I need you to do something very important for me, and Andrea."

"Anything," Emily said, her tears glistening in her eyes.

"I need you to raise Avyanna,"

"What? Miranda, no, you'll be fine, you can get through this. She can't lose her parents. She is only six, she can't lose you and Andrea. I can't lose you both." She cried.

"Emily, I love you, and I love her. But I can't, everything will be alright. Now please, be the brave and strong woman you are, and please watch our daughter. Please."

"Okay, Miranda." Emily said,

"I love you, Emily"

"I love you too," Miranda's grip on her hand tightened, as her heart rate spiked. Emily knew that she was dying. "It's okay, Miranda. I'm here for you." Emily whispered as Miranda took her last breath. Emily fell to her knees, with her head on Miranda's stomach, and sobbed.

One hour later

Emily was back at the children's hospital, still crying. A nurse had asked her if she was okay. Her cheeks and eyes were red. She cried even harder when the extent of what would soon happen hit her. She had to raise Avyanna, by herself, and take over Miranda's place at Runway, like Miranda had requested.

She had no idea how to tell Avyanna.