Cold air spilled from the ER vent. The heart monitor beeped like a tired metronome. A Styrofoam cup sweated on the tray beside me. Somewhere down the hall, Sinatra hummed from a volunteer’s radio. On the whiteboard across from my bed, a tiny American-flag magnet sat next to my discharge goals—walk, breathe, monitor vitals. I stared at it, realizing perseverance often comes disguised in small, quiet things.
I’m Ava Miller, and that day, I learned the difference between love and obligation the hard way—flat on my back, hooked to machines, while the people I’d spent years saving didn’t even answer my calls.
At Green Tech Solutions, burnout wasn’t just a risk—it was the culture. First in, last out. Crisis after crisis. I stayed late, patched mistakes, and carried the weight no one else would notice. My paycheck covered my family’s bills, while my sister Marissa—self-proclaimed wellness influencer—cycled through failed ventures, expecting bailouts disguised as love. My parents leaned on me. My youngest sister, Payton, charmed her way past responsibility. I was the quiet foundation keeping the family afloat.
Until my body gave out.
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