slidingglassdoor.acurtainthatghthaveveredtheglasswas

pushedbaedicalpersonneluldseerachel.

quietly,heapproaae

againsttheultipleivpolesbesidethebed,plusrachels

elevatedleg,esthesizeofheorlly

sline.

buthiseyesfoundherfacefast,a.thedoctorhadwaed

hingfroehindher,heuldsee

thataroundaraheleftsideartingto

purple.thelortherestofher.hereyeswere

closed,herlipspale,herskinashen,herfrecklesoutofplace.even

herhair,h,naturallyblondandthick,looked

unteristicallyek.

herea,therightone,freeofsuturesand

tubes.herfingersp,herskinol.carefully,hefoldedhis

o.

”rae.jack.”sheslepton.

”rae”heshel”hiskneeswere

shaking.heleanedagainstthebedrail.”eon,aito

isntanyfuntalkingifyoudonttalkback.”he

squeezedherhand.”yourfriendkatherinesaidi.

youusedtosayit,too.sayitnoind.”she

didntve.

”notevenablink”heopenedhishand.”hoovingafinger

toletknototryorareyougoingtokeepus

allguessingaboutyouhearandyoudont”sheshowedno

signofhavingheardhi

nothingnehere,hethought.shehadghtaheadanddoneher

ohingforyears,certainlyforthesixtheyhadbeenapart.so,