Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card

A CHANGE JOSH PRESENT DAY

| stared at my phone, thumb hovering over Luke's nin my contacts. The thought of skipping practice felt like

a betrayal to the team, to everything I'd worked so hard for-but today, | couldn't do it. I just couldn't go through

the motions, pretending that everything was

fine when it wasn't.

Luke picked up on the second ring.

"Hey man, what's up?" His voice was casual, but | could hear the background noise of the gym, the faint echo of

sneakers squeaking against polished floors and the low hum of chatter. "Hey, man," | started, already feeling

guilty. "I need a favor."

Luke groaned tically. "Look man. | get you are in a tough spot but you need to start getting your shit

together. For Asha..."

"It's not like that," | interrupted, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I just... | need today, okay? Just one day. |

promise I'll be back tomorrow, and I'll make it up to you and everyone else."

The silence on the other end stretched long enough to makeuncomfortable.

"Luke," | added, my voice dropping lower, "I really need this."

There was a pause, then a resigned sigh. "Fine. I'll cover for you. But, Josh-"

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| know. | cut him off. "I need to get my shilt together. That's what I'm doing, okay? That's exactly what I'm trying

to do."..

Another pause, then he muttered "You better, man."

I know. Thanks, Luke."

The call ended, and | dropped my phone onto the counter with a clatter, exhaling a shaky breath. My chest

already felt tight, like the weight of everything was pressing down harder today than usual.

| moved to the dining table where my laptop sat open. The glow of the screen felt harsh against the early

morning light filtering through the blinds. My inbox was pulled up, and at the top sat an email I'd been dreading

to open. From: Dr. Harrington

Subject: Update on Progress

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

My hand trembled slightly as | clicked it open. The words blurred together for a moment before | forced myself to

focus, reading each line carefully.

Good day,

| hope this message finds you well, though I understand the circumstances remain challenging.

| wanted to provide you with the latest update regarding Laura's condition based on her most recent scans and

assessments.

Unfortunately, there has been no significant improvement in her overall state. Her brain activity, while still

present, has shown a gradual decline over the past few months. | believe it's

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LA CHANGE

important to be transparent with you-while we continue to monitor her closely and provide the best care

possible, the likelihood of her regaining consciousness is extremely low.

| know this is not easy to hear, and | want to emphasize that we will continue to support Laura and your family in

every way we can. However, as her medical team, we feel it's our responsibility to prepare you for the possibility

that she may not

recover.

That being said, | have seen cases where patients defy the odds, and | do not wish to take away any hope you

may hold onto. Miracles can and do happen.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns, or if you need someone to talk to during this

time.

Sincerely,

Dr. Elizabeth Harrington

My eyes scanned the email again, the words sinking deeper into my chest like knives. "No significant

improvement." "Likelihood of regaining consciousness is extremely low." | swallowed hard, my throat tightening

with every line.

| should've been used to this by now-used to the weight of bad news. But no matter how many times | heard the

words, it never stopped hurting.

| leaned back in my chair, glancing across the room to where Asha lay on her back in her playpen. Her little feet

kicked at the air as she giggled at the rainbow mobile dangling above her.

She had Laura's laugh.

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LA CHANGE

My chest ached as | watched her this

perfect little girl who had no idea how

broken her fol (RIOes. SH

didnt khew that her mom might

never cback That her dad was

barely holding it together, barely able

to function most days. The content is

on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

| closed my laptop and dragged a

hand over my face, trying to keep

myself together. But they weightiafit

Aaa RE Laura's

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

absence, the crushing guilt that |

couldn't do anything to fix it-made it

almost impossible to breathe. How

did it cto this? The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

| stood and walked over to Asha,

crouching down beside PBR

She wee ebdtSnar me, her

tiky Face ighting up in a way that

made my heart twist painfully. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

"Hey, princess," I. murmured, reaching through the bars to brush a stray curl from her forehead. She cooed at

me, her little hands flailing toward my fingers.

"I'm sorry," | whispered, my voice breaking. "I'm so sorry, baby girl. | wish | could make this better. | wish | could

fix everything for you. For her."

Asha just giggled, oblivious to the tears that slipped down my cheeks.

| leaned my forehead against the edge of the playpen, my hands gripping the sides tightly.

"I can't keep doing this," | muttered to myself. "Something has to change. | have to change. For her. For you."

Asha kicked her legs again, babbling happily, and | forced a shaky smile, trying to match her energy.

L

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One step at a time.

That's all I could do.