Sarah stopped at the bed rail and took off her wire-rimmed glasses, holding them by the frame so she could look Emily directly and seriously in the eye.

“How’s your breathing right now, Emily?” Sarah asked, her clinical words steady and exact.

“My chest gets a little tight when I turn,” Emily whispered.

“Other than that it’s fine.”

“You’ve got two cracked ribs on your left side and severe deep bruising across both shoulders,” Sarah said, sliding her glasses into the pocket of her white coat.

“That much trauma takes a great deal of physical force.”

Emily tugged her sweater cuffs tighter around her wrists, her eyes flicking anxiously toward the closed door.