Dr. Maya Hart stared at the blinking cursor on her laptop screen. The words ABA Anesthesia Login glowed in blue letters, waiting for her password.

Incorrect password.

She began. (a few weeks later)

And for the first time all year, Maya smiled. This was just another kind of anesthesia—managing pressure, keeping a system stable, and bringing it safely to the other side.

Her heart dropped. “No, no, no…”

Her daughter clapped, not knowing why, only that Mom was crying happy tears.