Если я останусь

           Aftershereadsmychartandtalkstothenurses,shegoesbackdownstairstomyfamily,whohavestoppedtalkinginhushedtonesandarenowallengagedinsolitaryactivities.Granisknitting.Grampsispretendingtonap.AuntDianeplayingsudoku.MycousinsaretakingturnsonaGameBoy,thesoundturnedtomute.

           Kimhasleft.Whenshecamebacktothewaitingroomaftervisitingthechapel,shefoundMrs.Scheinatotalwreck.Sheseemedsoembarrassedandshehustledhermotherout.Actually,IthinkhavingMrs.Scheinthereprobablyhelped.Comfortinghergaveeveryoneelsesomethingtodo,awaytofeeluseful.Nowthey’rebacktofeelinguseless,backtotheendlesswait.

           Whenthesocialworkerwalksintothewaitingroom,everyonestandsup,likethey’regreetingroyalty.Shegivesahalfsmile,whichI’veseenherdoseveraltimesalreadytoday.Ithinkit’shersignalthateverythingisokay,orstatusquo,andshe’sjustheretodeliveranupdate,nottodropabomb.

           "Miaisstillunconscious,buthervitalsignsareimproving,"shetellstheassembledrelatives,whohaveabandonedtheirdistractionshaphazardlyonthechairs."She’sinwiththerespiratorytherapistsrightnow.They’rerunningteststoseehowherlungsarefunctioningandwhethershecanbeweanedofftheventilator."

           "That’sgoodnews,then?"AuntDianeasks."Imeanifshecanbreatheonherown,thenshe’llwakeupsoon?"

           Thesocialworkergivesapracticedsympatheticnod."It’sagoodstepifshecanbreatheonherown.