I went into the narrow bathroom, turned on the single brass faucet over the white porcelain sink, and waited for the water to run warm.

I took a thin gray hand towel off the chrome rack and held it under the tap until the cotton was soaked through.

I sat on the edge of the mattress beside Theodore and pressed the warm, wet cloth gently to his wrists, his throat, and his forehead.

He quieted as the damp cloth cooled his skin, his eyelids getting heavy while his fingers held the blue wool blanket tighter against his stomach.

I went back into the bathroom, turned the brass tap on again, and rinsed the gray towel under the running water.