We went back together.
The pediatric resident introduced herself as Dr. Owens.
She examined June carefully.
Then she explained that June had a urinary tract infection.
It wasn’t uncommon in infant girls.
They would run a culture.
Start antibiotics.
Monitor the fever.
She explained the medication schedule.
The signs we needed to watch for.
When to call the pediatrician.
When to return to the ER.
Ethan listened.
Actually listened.
He asked questions.
Good ones.
Not questions designed to prove he was paying attention.
Questions from someone who genuinely wanted to understand what to do.
We left the hospital around 5:15.
June had received her first antibiotic dose.
Her fever had dropped to 101.3.
She was still sick.
But slightly calmer.
I sat in the back beside her.
Ethan drove.
Slowly.
Carefully.
When we reached home, I fed June.
