[ WP ] The single saddest moment your life will ever have was the single happiest moment of someone else 's .

The walk sign was green, but the car didn ’ t stop. That was all Melanie could think about. “ He didn ’ t follow the rules. It doesn ’ t count. ” She had argued with the EMTs, with the doctors and with the nurses. Even the grief counsellor had only gotten the repetitive sentences out of her. “ It can ’ t be. It doesn ’ t count. It ’ s not fair. ” 
 
 
 Her sweet, funny little boy. Even when he was nearly running to school, eager to show off his new Star Wars backpack, he followed the rules. He never crossed the road when the light was red. She had taught him that. She had taught him, and he had remembered. He followed the rules. The driver didn ’ t. “ He was a good boy. Such a good boy. ” When they told her his heart had stopped beating, she felt like hers did too. 
 
 
 She thought perhaps she had died, and this was her hell. But they were talking to her, forcing her to exist and to answer their questions. She wanted them to go away, but they were talking about all the good things that could be done. “ He was a good boy ” she confirmed again as she signed the papers. 
 
 ________________________________________________ 
 
 
 Paul was pushing the sweaty lock of hair away from his daughter ’ s face. His fingers brushing against the various tubes and sensors that covered her little body. She hadn ’ t come to in a couple of days, the doctors said she would be gone any day now. They had been through so much pain, so much waiting and hope and disappointment. A few weeks ago they had thought they were saved, but the weather had delayed the helicopter too much. 
 
 
 He leaned over her and put his forehead against hers, breathing in and trying to find her own sweet smell beneath the odor of hospital and illness. He held on tight to the memory of her baby smell, scared that these last few days would be what he would remember best. She had been so much more. She had been dancing, laughing, even fighting. The last year had been a different kind of fight. 
 “ It ’ s okay if you ’ re tired. ” He kissed her forehead and sat back up, holding her hand in his. “ You ’ ve been so incredibly strong. ” The doctors had told him to prepare, and he had tried and failed. He had decided to be strong for her, choosing to believe she could hear him. “ I love you so much. ” 
 
 
 He continued saying it, over and over again. He was down to whispering it when the nurse opened the door to his room and said the most amazing words he had ever heard. 
 
 
 “ We have a heart. ” 

