The girl required less monitoring.

The treating team made those decisions from the children’s condition, not from how strongly any adult wanted a reassuring ending.

When one monitor lead was removed, Mara watched the nurse coil it away.

“One less,” she said.

“One less thing we need to monitor right now,” the nurse replied.

It was a small improvement.

Mara smiled as though it was large enough for the day.

At another visit, she brought a clean blue blanket approved by staff.