The anchor’s voice was grave but admiring.
“Last month, a devastating fire broke out in the geriatric ward of St. Jude’s Hospital. While most fled, Nurse Lena Carter ran back into the smoke. Single-handedly, she coordinated the evacuation of twenty-seven patients. She physically carried two elderly men to safety down four flights of stairs, despite still recovering from a difficult childbirth just weeks prior.”
The camera zoomed in on my face on the screen.
Caleb must have stared at his television, stunned. He knew I was a nurse. He knew I was strong. But he didn’t know this.
Then, the anchor dropped the hammer.
“But what makes Lena’s story truly remarkable is the personal battle she fights behind closed doors. Shortly after the birth of her twins, her husband abandoned the family. Without financial support or a partner, she continued her work, saving lives while raising her newborns alone. She has become a symbol of courage across the state.”
The audience in the studio erupted. Public applause. A standing ovation that seemed to shake the speakers.
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