Emily's First Emergency
Chapter 17 - Emily's First Emergency
During her second year of nursing school, Emily called Frank at two in the morning.
She had failed an important clinical evaluation.
“I can't do this.”
Frank sat up.
“Yes, you can.”
“You don't know that.”
“No.”
He thought carefully.
“But I know something about failing.”
Emily laughed through tears.
“That is not inspiring.”
“Let me finish.”
Frank told her failure was information.
It showed where something needed to change.
It did not decide who she was.
Emily became quiet.
“Did you learn that in recovery?”
“Eventually.”
She passed the evaluation the next time.
Afterward, she called him first.
Frank realized something.
He had missed teaching her to ride a bike.
He had missed school plays.
Birthdays.
First dates.
May you like
But fatherhood was not over.
There were still moments ahead.
