her heart pounding. The paramedics arrived soon after and confirmed Ruby had fainted from dehydration. Relief flooded over Lara, but as she watched Ruby being taken care of, her thoughts shifted to Ben. This wasn’t the first time Ben had faced something life-threatening. Two years ago, he’d found his father, Richard, dead—an image that haunted both of them. Now, here he was again, watching someone else in distress. Later that night, as Lara tucked Ben into bed, he asked, “Mom, is Ruby dead like Daddy?”

Lara’s heart broke. She reassured him, “No, baby, Ruby is okay. She’s just sick.” But as she sat beside him, holding his hand, Lara realized how much Ben had been forced to carry on his small shoulders. He had faced so much for his age, showing more courage than anyone should have to. In that moment, Lara understood that parenting wasn’t just about protection. It was about witnessing her son’s strength, learning from it, and realizing that sometimes, it was she who needed saving.