“A baby? Your sister just dumped her kid on you? That is insane, Natalie. You need to call social services.”

“I can’t just call social services in the middle of the night,” I said. “She is my niece. Can you please just go to the twenty-four-hour store and get some formula and diapers?”

“This is not our problem,” he said firmly. “This is exactly the kind of drama your sister always creates. Do not get pulled into it.”

I hung up, realizing I was entirely on my own.

I carefully placed Lily back in her car seat and drove to the nearest twenty-four-hour supermarket. I wandered the baby aisles in my scrubs from work, frantically googling what kind of formula to buy for a three-month-old and what size diapers she might need. A kind elderly woman working the night shift helped me put together the essentials, her eyes full of concern as I explained I was suddenly caring for my niece.