“Since your parents refused to sign the treatment consent forms, the hospital administration filed the emergency petition,” Mrs.

Higgins told me.

“Custody transfers to the state entirely.

The judge signed the order on Thursday.

Your care is now authorized under public funding.”

I put the new deck of cards in my bag.

The plastic-coated edges were already softening from use.

“Public funding means the state pays for the new protocol,” Rachel said.