Abigail “Abby” Monroe

Age: 38

Occupation:

Nurse
 

Family:

Mother to Elena and mother to the late Tommy Monroe

Personality Traits:

Distant, responsible, resilient, emotionally burdened, loving beneath the surface

Faith:

Strong but challenged by personal grief and exhaustion

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Background Story:

Abby Monroe has always been the rock of her family, balancing work, home, and the needs of her children. She chose nursing not just as a career, but as a calling, a way to care for others, even when it meant putting her own needs aside.

Her world was shattered when Tommy, her beloved son, died in an accident. The loss left a gaping hole in her heart. Overwhelmed with grief, she found herself withdrawing from Elena, not because she stopped caring, but because the pain was too heavy and her energy too stretched. Long shifts at the hospital keep her physically present for her family’s survival, but emotionally, she feels far away, afraid that confronting her grief might shatter her completely.

Abby struggles with guilt that she couldn’t prevent Tommy’s death, guilt that she isn’t enough for Elena in her darkest moments. She wrestles with faith in quiet, lonely moments, praying for strength to guide her daughter through grief, even when she feels lost herself.

Yet beneath the exhaustion and distance lies unwavering love. Abby is determined, in her own way, to help Elena heal. She may stumble, falter, or seem absent, but every action she takes, every long shift, every careful decision, is threaded with her deep desire to protect and care for her daughter. Over the course of the story, Abby’s journey mirrors Elena’s in its own way: learning that healing isn’t about perfection, but about faith, presence, and opening one’s heart to God’s light again.

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Conflict & Role in the Story:

• Emotional distance creates tension between her and Elena.

• Her struggles with grief and faith provide a parallel to Elena’s own journey.

• Acts as a subtle but powerful catalyst for Elena’s growth, showing that love and faith can persist even when masked by sorrow.

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Snapshot memory scene from Elena’s perspective: 

The kitchen smelled faintly of antiseptic and coffee, Abby’s signature blend of work and exhaustion. I remember sitting at the counter, toes dangling from the stool, watching her shuffle through papers and bills like a ghost I barely knew.

She didn’t look at me, not really, just muttered, “I’ll make dinner later.” Her hands trembled slightly as she poured herself another cup. I wanted to reach across the counter, grab her hand, tell her I was still here… that I needed her. But I didn’t.

So I stayed silent, listening to the soft tick of the clock, wishing she’d notice me, not just the space I occupied, but the grief I carried, too. I wanted my mom back. The one who used to laugh at my terrible piano recitals, who tucked Tommy and me in at night. Now, she was here, and yet, somehow, gone.