She tightened both hands around the stuffed rabbit and buried her face in its gray fabric.

“Did he say that before he left on Sunday?” I asked.

“Grandma said it too,” Lily whispered into the pillow, turning her face toward the blank white wall.

“She said the green clothes are your real family.”

“Grandma doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” I said, leaning closer against the steel side rail.

“Grandma said you were never coming back to get me,” Lily said.

“I’m right here,” I said.