Kevin sat in the plastic chair in the hospital's family lounge, his phone pressed to his ear. The room smelled faintly of stale coffee and disinfectant. He could hear Emily's laugh echoing in his head a memory, not the present. She was sleeping again, too weak to do more.
"Hello, yes. My name's Kevin Carter. Matt uh, Nurse Matilda gave me your number. She said you help families with emergency rent."
He listened as the woman on the other end explained the process the forms, the waiting list, the interviews. Kevin's heart sank with every word. There was no immediate help. No miracle check that would make his landlord back off by Friday.
"I understand," he said, though he didn't. He wanted to scream. "Thank you anyway."
He ended the call and stared at the floor. His thumb hovered over his landlord's last message: "If you can't pay by Friday, don't bother coming back."
He wanted to punch something. But his fists wouldn't solve this. Emily didn't need bruised knuckles she needed him steady.
When he stood up, he nearly ran into Matt outside the lounge. She was holding a folder so tightly her knuckles were white.
"You okay?" she asked, seeing his face.
Kevin forced a humorless smile. "Rent help isn't happening. Too many people ahead of us. Story of my life."
Matt's eyes flicked away, guilt shadowing her face. "I'm sorry. I hoped they'd pull through faster."
"It's not your fault," Kevin said, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's life. We'll figure something out. I always do."
He meant it, but Matt could see the cracks in his armor. She'd learned how to read him now the way his shoulders tensed when he lied to himself.
She opened her mouth to offer another idea, but a voice cut through the corridor before she could speak.
"Matilda!"
Matt stiffened. Kevin turned to see a man in a sharp suit striding toward them. He looked out of place in the hospital all polished shoes and perfect hair. His ID badge read Administrative Director.
"Mr. Laird," Matt greeted, her tone polite but tight.
"Can I speak with you? Privately?" The director didn't spare Kevin a glance.
Kevin stepped back, uneasy. Matt gave him a small nod it's okay. But as she followed Mr. Laird down the hall, Kevin saw her shoulders square the way they did when she was about to fight.
Mr. Laird didn't waste time. The moment they were out of earshot, his words hit like cold water.
"I've been made aware you're assisting a patient's family with a hardship appeal. Without routing it through the proper channels."
Matt crossed her arms. "I filed the request under the correct patient advocate. I'm not breaking policy."
"You're bending it, Matilda. This family's situation is… complicated. The board will push back. They won't like your name attached to it."
Matt's jaw tightened. "Then they'll have to talk to me directly. Emily Carter's life depends on this."
Mr. Laird's eyes narrowed. "Your job depends on knowing when you've done enough. I'm advising you, for your own good step back. Let the process run its course."
Matt's heart thudded in her chest. She thought of Emily's tiny hand in Kevin's. The desperation in Kevin's eyes when he'd said love doesn't pay for chemo.
"I won't step back," she said quietly. "I'm not doing anything wrong."
Mr. Laird gave her a look that said he was done talking. "If this goes sideways, it's on you."
He walked away, his polished shoes clicking down the corridor, leaving Matt standing under the harsh fluorescent lights, her throat tight. She hated this hated that helping people came with consequences.
An hour later, she found Kevin in Emily's room. He was reading softly from a tattered children's book, his voice low and steady, though he knew Emily was too groggy to follow the words.
Matt waited by the door until he noticed her. When he did, he closed the book and met her eyes.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
Matt hesitated, then stepped closer. She lowered her voice so Emily wouldn't hear. "The board's pushing back on the hardship request. They're… not thrilled I'm involved."
Kevin's eyes darkened. "Are you in trouble because of me?"
Matt shook her head, forcing a small smile. "No. They're just playing games. It'll be fine."
Kevin stared at her that same searching stare that made her feel like he could see the truth she tried to hide.
"You didn't have to do any of this," he murmured. "You could have just done your job and walked away."
Matt looked at Emily, at the machines keeping her alive. "And let her slip through the cracks? Not a chance."
They stood there in the hum of the monitors, a fragile alliance holding them together. For a moment, Kevin almost reached for her hand to say thank you without words. But he pulled back, burying his hands in his pockets instead.
Matt cleared her throat. "I have another idea. There's a charity event next month a silent auction the hospital board always attends. Sometimes they make big public gestures when they think people are watching. If we can get your story in front of the right donors, maybe…"
Kevin managed a tired laugh. "A fundraiser in a fancy ballroom? I don't even own a tie."
Matt grinned. "I've seen you work a flannel shirt. You'll survive."
Kevin's smile faded as he looked at Emily again. "I'll do anything, Matt. Whatever it takes."
Matt's voice was steady, but a shiver of worry twisted in her chest. Whatever it takes. She knew Kevin meant it but this fight would break him piece by piece.
She reached for his hand then, just for a moment. "You're not alone, Kevin. Not anymore."