The medicine that kept Lily healthy was very expensive. Robert worked as many hours as he could, but construction work didn’t pay enough to cover all of Lily’s medical needs. He had already sold his car, his watch, and even his wedding ring to pay for her treatments. One cold Tuesday morning, Lily woke up with a terrible fever. Her small body was burning hot, and she could barely keep her eyes open.
Robert touched her forehead and felt panic rush through his body like ice water. Daddy,” Lily whispered, her voice weak and scratchy. “I can’t breathe very well.” Robert’s heart broke as he looked at his sick daughter. He knew she needed medicine right away, but he had already spent his last $20 on groceries the day before.
The pharmacy wouldn’t let him buy medicine without money, and the hospital would ask for insurance papers he didn’t have. He called his boss, Mr. Peterson, and begged for an advance on his paycheck. Robert, I wish I could help you, Mr. Peterson said over the phone. But company policy doesn’t allow advances. You know that.
Robert fell to his knees beside Lily’s bed, watching his daughter struggle to breathe. Her lips were turning slightly blue and her small hands were shaking. He knew that without medicine, Lily might not make it through the night. That evening, after Lily had fallen into a restless sleep, Robert made the hardest decision of his life.
He put on his old jacket, kissed his daughter’s forehead, and walked into the cold night air. The pharmacy on Elm Street was busy, even at 8:00 in the evening. Families were buying medicine for their children. Elderly people were picking up their prescriptions, and teenagers were buying cough drops for winter colds.
