Inside the room, a nurse approached with a bottle of warm milk for Amelie. Theo watched with wide eyes as she carefully fed his sister, a look of profound relief washing over his face. For the first time since he had entered the ER, his shoulders relaxed a little.

“You’re doing a great job, Theo,” the nurse said gently. “Amelie is lucky to have such a caring brother.”

Theo’s smile was faint, but it was there, a small ray of light in the midst of darkness.