“I don’t know what the basic protocol is,” I said.

“It means we pay for what the insurance covers, and nothing more,” he said.

He stood up and tucked the blue folder back under his arm.

“I’m going to find the billing office,” he said.

He walked out without looking back.

Linda gave me a tight smile before she followed him into the corridor.

At noon, they made me walk the halls to keep my circulation going.

I pushed my metal IV pole out of Room 314 and turned left toward the main nurses’ station.