Lily’s point of view

As I slipped Aiden into his bed and he clung to me, his tiny hands gripping the tip of my shirt. I was heartbroken by the quiet worry that had taken the place of his customary joy.

"Can you stay here, Mommy?" His voice was tiny and tremulous as he whispered. He has been through too much today.

I brushed his hair back and said quietly, "Okay, I am not going anywhere, sweetheart."

I crawled into the bed next to him putting his head on my chest and held him. The past few hours events played back to me like an unrelenting reel, with each scene...