I nodded numbly.
“She told me Sylvia, Dad’s girlfriend, went into labor last night. She had twins. And Dad just left. He told the nurses he wanted nothing to do with them.”
I felt like I’d been punched. “No. That can’t be right.”
“It’s true. I went to see her. Sylvia was alone in that hospital room with two newborns, crying so hard she could barely breathe. She’s really sick—something went wrong during delivery. The doctors were talking about complications, infections. She could barely hold the babies.”
“Josh, this isn’t our problem…”
“They’re my siblings!” His voice cracked. “They’re my brother and sister, and they have nobody. I told Sylvia I’d bring them home just for a little while, just to show you, and maybe we could help. I couldn’t just leave them.”
I sank onto his bed. “How did they even let you take them? You’re 16.”
“Sylvia signed a temporary release form. She knows who I am. I showed them my ID, proving I was related. Mrs. Chen vouched for me. They said it was irregular, but Sylvia kept crying, saying she didn’t know what else to do.”
I looked at the babies. So small. So fragile.
“You can’t do this. This isn’t your responsibility,” I whispered, tears burning my eyes.
“Then whose is it?” Josh shot back. “Dad’s? He already proved he doesn’t care. What if Sylvia doesn’t make it, Mom? What happens to these babies then?”
“We take them back to the hospital right now. This is too much.”
“Mom, please…”
