Facts and Reality

"You can do it." My brother's voice carried more necessity than encouragement. He rescued his daughter from a toppling stack of boxes. She screamed despite being uninjured.

"What was that?" my sister in law called from upstairs in alarm.

"Nothing to worry about." my brother replied. But the telltale cry of their newborn son erupted from overhead.

I picked up the mess of toys from the floor. "What if I let all of you down?"

"You're not the kind of guy to give up," my brother said, restraining my wriggling niece with a strong arm.

I stared begrudgingly at the door, feeling an unpleasant lurch in my stomach.

"Remember all we've talked about," he continued, "We're making progress. I know it seems like we can't catch a break, but we will. Now's the time to build muscle and endure."

I thought back to all the times I had broken down and he pulled me back up. All the talks and patience.

"The only way out is forward."

I nodded and turned the handle, stepping out into the humid morning heat, toward my car. Toward work.