She closed her eyes again.

The pump kept clicking.

I waited until Mariana went down the hall to call her charge nurse and tell her she wouldn’t be in for the next two shifts.

Noah had fallen asleep in the vinyl chair, his drawing half finished on his lap.

I smoothed the blanket over Lily’s legs and stepped out.

The cafeteria was on the lower level, past radiology and past the gift shop with its rack of Mylar balloons.

I bought a coffee I didn’t want and sat at a plastic table by the window.