you take them with you?”
There was silence on the other end.
Then she whispered, “Mom, I’m in agony.”
Her voice sounded so weak that for a moment, I almost changed my mind.
But then I pictured the night ahead.
Three children waking up.
Crying.
Needing food.
Needing to be carried.
My husband struggling to keep up.
I panicked.
“I don’t know what you want me to do,” I said.
“Please,” she begged. “They’re asleep. I can’t wake them up and drag them to the emergency room. I just need
