Not her father, Thomas Pierce, who never missed a chance to talk about the importance of family at church.
Not her older sister, Megan, who filled social media with quotes about loyalty and grace. Not her younger brother, Cole, who could respond instantly to fantasy football messages but somehow had nothing to say when his sister and nephew were lying in a hospital. Lauren checked the group chat over and over again. At four in the morning—nothing. At seven twenty—still nothing.
By noon, the message sat there unanswered between an old recipe discussion and a holiday photo Megan had shared days earlier. When Lauren’s friend Tessa arrived with fresh clothes and a phone charger, she asked the question Lauren already dreaded: “Who’s called?” Lauren let out a brittle laugh. 
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