The doctor pulled a thick yellow packet out from the bottom of the clipboard.

He handed Michael a cheap blue ballpoint.

Michael laid the yellow papers flat on his thighs.

He signed his full legal name on four separate authorization lines, pressing hard enough to leave dents in the bottom sheet.

Noah shifted under the thin white hospital blanket.

He reached across his chest with his left hand and gripped the left sleeve of his hospital gown tight.

“Uncle Derek,” Noah said in a whisper.