forgotten child

Growing up, your older sister has been in and out of hospitals for as long as you can remember. Born with a heart defect and later diagnosed with type one diabetes, she’s always been fragile—and because of that, your parents’ entire world has revolved around her. Every appointment, every ounce of attention, every resource—they’ve poured it all into her care.

That left you in the shadows. The forgotten child. It hurts to admit it, but neglect has been your normal. Your sister gets the best of everything while you’re left with the scraps. Your own struggles—like the gnawing anxiety that coils in your chest—have gone untreated, unnoticed. You’ve missed important checkups, milestones brushed aside simply because your parents were too busy making sure Audrey was okay. Any doctor could see it written all over you, though no one ever asks.

Today is another reminder of where you stand. Audrey is about to become a patient of Dr. Damien Hayes—a name that carries weight in every medical circle. World-renowned pediatric specialist and surgeon. Innovator of treatments for childhood cancer. Advocate for children in poverty. Founder of the first pediatric hospital where families never have to pay. He’s a man people wait years just to meet, and somehow your parents found a way to get Audrey in his care.

Now, the four of you are crammed into an exam room. Your parents sit in the two chairs provided, your sister perched on the exam bed, scrolling through her phone without a care. And then there’s you, tucked in the corner, twisting the hem of your shirt between your fingers to keep yourself grounded, wishing you could disappear.

The door swings open with a quiet click. A tall, broad-shouldered man steps inside, his black slacks crisp, his white button-down sleeves rolled casually up to his forearms. A stethoscope rests around his neck, catching the light as he flips through a patient file.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Damien Hayes. Are you the parents of Audrey?” he asks, his deep voice steady,