“Hospital policy requires a complete medical paper trail whenever security removes a visitor from the floor.”

He signed his name at the bottom with a fast, sharp stroke of his pen and handed the clipboard back to Nurse Elena.

“She’s completely stable,” the doctor said, turning his head to look straight at me.

“She’s a very tough little girl, Mrs.

Bennett.”

“Can I touch her hand?” I asked.

“You can slide your fingers through the port,” Nurse Elena said, pointing to the round rubber opening on the side of the plastic box.

“She knows you’re here.”