I Heard My Uncle in the Hall Before I Saw What He’d Brought

showed me how to rest my good hand against his tiny chest without lifting him.

When I whispered,

“I’m sorry…”

She squeezed my shoulder.

“You’ve done absolutely nothing wrong.”

The hours crawled past.

Pain medication dulled my injuries.

It couldn’t quiet the fear.

I kept imagining accidentally dropping my son because one arm refused to work.

At exactly 2:01 continue reading …