Death of an Infant

The voice on the phone was __________ brother. He seemed able to say only a few words. ________ and ___________ had found the baby in the crib suffocating. ____________ held her while the life drained away. Then they had rushed out to the hospital.

It took a long time to get across the city and out to the far edge where ___________ and ___________ had moved, and I was too late. The nurse had a hard time telling me the baby was dead, and then she pointed out the door. "They've already gone." I ran out the door and down the ramp. Two figures, huddled back into their coats, were at the far end of the hospital making their way into the parking lot. I shouted, but there was no response. They just slowed their walk. I ran down the ramp. When I reached them, I was completely out …