She shook him and checked his breathing. It was soft and shallow, and he did not wake up. Ann burst into tears, sobbing as she dialed 911. Her world collapsed in on her as she frantically conveyed information and answered questions on the phone. She screamed at the operator to hurry. She crawled into bed with Brandon and hugged him tightly, hating herself and not understanding the situation she found herself in.

The hospital room was quiet and dimly lit. Ann sat in a chair, mentally exhausted as she watched Bran sleep. They had pumped his stomach and mitigated the effects of the narcotic, leaving him looking frail laying in...