Если я останусь

           "IloveOregon,"shesayswithahiccupattemptatalaugh.Icantellbyhersarcastictonethatit’smeshe’stalkingto,notGod."Thisisthehospital’sideaofnondenominational."Shepointsaroundthechapel.Thereisacrucifixmountedonthewall,aflagofacrossdrapedoverthelectern,andafewpaintingsoftheMadonnaandChildhangingintheback."WehaveatokenStarofDavid,"shesays,gesturingtothesix-pointedstaronthewall."ButwhatabouttheMuslims?NoprayerrugsorsymboltoshowwhichwayiseasttowardMecca?AndwhatabouttheBuddhists?Couldn’ttheyspringforagong?ImeanthereareprobablymoreBuddhiststhanJewsinPortlandanyway."

           Isitdowninachairbesideher.ItfeelssonaturalthewaythatKimistalkingtomelikeshealwaysdoes.OtherthantheparamedicwhotoldmetohanginthereandthenursewhokeepsaskingmehowI’mdoing,noonehastalkedtomesincetheaccident.Theytalkaboutme.

           I’veneveractuallyseenKimpray.Imean,sheprayedatherbatmitzvahandshedoestheblessingsatShabbatdinner,butthatisbecauseshehasto.Mostly,shemakeslightofherreligion.Butaftershetalkstomeforawhile,shecloseshereyesandmovesherlipsandmurmursthingsinalanguageIdon’tunderstand.

           Sheopenshereyesandwipesherhandstogetherasiftosayenoughofthat.Thenshereconsidersandaddsafinalappeal."Pleasedon’tdie.