She stares at the picture on the mantle. She inhales, breathing in the scent of the farm house. Winter has set in, and the house is filled with the scent of burning wood from the fireplace. Another breath reveals the smell of wet boots, and the cup of warm hot coco between her hands. She stands in silence in front of the mantle. It is late, and the room is dimly lit. The only light is from the fireplace, and a couple of candles on the mountain. She takes the picture frame off the mantle, and carries it with her to the couch. She settles into her seat, and places her mug on the surface of the coffee table. She flips on a lamp, and closely studies the picture.

The people staring back at her look endlessly happy. A boy, a girl, and their father. She recognizes the look of sadness in the mother's eyes. In fact it is the look in her own eyes. This was the path that she had chosen. She wanted this, and things had been more incredible that she had ever imagined, despite an underlying sense of guilt. She has lived in this very house for ten years. She moved to this small, rural area hoping for a new beginning.

She traded it all for a single dream. She hoped and prayed for simplicity, and a chance to lead a different existence. She gave up everything to come here. She uprooted everything for this opportunity. She changed her career, becoming a teacher. She changed her look, and her name. She changed everything, and things fell into place. Her life soon became filled with warmth, love, and stability. She met an incredible man, and married him. He was a good provider, and it wasn't long before their family of two increased.

They live a simple existence. They choose to live well within their means so that their children can be afforded opportunities further down the road. She studies their family picture. It is from the previous Christmas. A daughter, with bright eyes, and a beautiful smile, and a son with curls, and an ornery grin. Her eyes shift from the picture. Eventually her eyes fall on her abdomen. Her hand comes to rest on her abdomen, and her barely perceptible bump. They were supposed to live happily ever after, but her life changed in the blink of an eye. It isn't the first time, but she has more at stake now.

She hears a floorboard creak, and her natural instinct is to reach for the weapon under the floorboard. She pauses, recognizing the footsteps coming towards her. She looks up, and finds a little girl with braided hair, wearing a nightgown coming toward her. The little girl takes a seat on the couch. She lies down positioning her head in her mother's lap.

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Where is daddy?"

She pets her head, "I don't know."

"When is he coming home?"

"I don't know," she admits.

"Mommy what is going on?"

"Things far beyond our control," she explains.

"It's late, why are you still awake?"

"I was just thinking," she admits.

"I am sure he'll be home soon," the little girl reassures her.

"Yeah," she nods, in agreement.

"Don't worry about me, okay? I'll be okay."

"You should go back to bed."

"Can I sleep with you?"

"I'm not asleep," she points out.

"Then, I guess it is time for bed."

She follows the little girl up the stairs to the master bedroom. They situate themselves underneath a quilt. She lies there staring at her daughter.

"Mommy, quit worrying about me, and go to sleep."

"Okay," she kisses her forehead, "Goodnight, angel."

She tosses and turns all night. She wakes before dawn, and both kids are still asleep. She heads downstairs to the kitchen after checking on her son. She finds her husband sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee.

"Kevin, where were you?"

"It doesn't matter what I say. You're paranoia will make up an answer to satisfy your delusions."

"You have been late every night this week."

"I was at work."

"At one o'clock in the morning? You were at the office until one in the morning? What kind of veterinary emergency was it this time? Oh, wait, you don't do emergencies. There is an emergency, after hour clinic forty minutes north of us. Never try to comfort me with a lie. Just tell me the truth."

"I just couldn't come home. I sat there in my office, and I couldn't bring myself to come home."

"Then maybe you shouldn't be here."

"I am just having a hard time with this. I just can't do it. Every time I think about coming home and reading her a story, and tucking her in, it breaks my heart, because I keep thinking that it might be the last time, and I just can't live with that."

"I need you here. We all need you here. I can't do this on my own. I need you here."

"I know, I just need a minute."

"A minute? If you want me to do this on my own, I will."

"That isn't what I am saying. I don't expect that."

"You missed the doctor's appointment yesterday."

"I didn't know that she had an appointment yesterday," he admits.

"My doctor's appointment," she clarifies.

"Right," he nods, "I'm so sorry. Was everything okay? I know that you had to reschedule a couple of times, I guess I just forgot that it was yesterday."

"It's okay, they look fine."

"They?"

She nods, "Twins."

He shakes his head in disbelief, "How are we going to do this? We already have so much on our plate with Ava being sick."

"I don't want to talk about that right now."

"We have to talk about it eventually. Neither of us are a match."

"I know."

"So what are we going to do? They said it could take months for them to find a match. She is only going to get sicker."

"There is no other option."