A nurse came in and threatened to call security over the noise, which gave Beckwith the opening to send them out, reminding them that the seven days had already begun.

At the door, my mother turned back to the bed.

“When that woman finally leaves you,” she said, “don’t come crawling back to me.” I looked at Amina — who had gone more than a day without sleep, who had spent her own life savings to keep me breathing.

“She’s the only person,” I said, “who didn’t abandon me when I was dying.”

Chapter 28 — The Small Apartment

There were no calls for several days.