I Woke After 11 Days and Found My 9-Year-Old Grandson Asleep Beside My Hospital Bed—Then He Whispered, “Pretend You’re Still in a Coma”

“Pretend you’re still asleep.”

I stared.

“Walter.”

“Please.”

“Why?”

His fingers closed around my hand.

Hard.

“Because you need to hear what she says when she thinks you can’t.”