The hospital called and said a little boy had listed me as his emergency contact. I laughed nervously and said, “That’s impossible. I’m 32, single, and I don’t have a son.”

after the accident. He asked difficult questions at unexpected times.

“Why did Mom stop being your friend?” he asked once.

I chose my words carefully. “Because sometimes people feel ashamed of being hurt, and they get angry at the person who notices.”

He thought about that. “Were you angry too?”

“Yes,” I said. “But I’m not anymore.”

Six months later, Rachel continue reading …