I’m Melanie, and I want to tell you about the most significant day in my life. I had just gotten home from a grueling day at the office. All I wanted was to kick back with a glass of wine and lose myself in some cheesy rom-com. You know, the kind where you don’t have to think too hard, just laugh at the predictable plot and cry a little at the happy ending.But life, as it often does, had other plans. I was just about to hit play when there was a knock at the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so I hesitated, peeking through the peephole. To my surprise, it was Christina, my best friend. And she wasn’t alone. She had her two kids,

Dylan, who was five, and baby Mike, barely two months old, bundled up in her arms. “Melanie, I need your help,” she said, her voice trembling. “I have to see a doctor urgently. Can you watch the boys for an hour? Just an hour, I promise.” Chris looked desperate, and honestly, it scared me. She was always the strong one, the one who had it all together. Seeing her like that, so vulnerable, was jarring. I felt a knot form in my stomach, but I couldn’t say no to her. How could I? “Of course, Chris,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “Come in, let’s get you sorted.” She handed me baby Mike and kissed Dylan on the forehead.