Если я останусь

           Still,whentheycomethroughtheautomaticdoubledoorsintotheICU,bothofthemstop,asifrepelledbyaninvisiblebarrier.GrantakesGramps’shand,andItrytorememberifI’veeverseenthemholdhandsbefore.Granscansthebedsforme,butjustasthesocialworkerstartstopointoutwhereIam,Grampsseesmeandhestridesacrossthefloortomybed.

           "Hello,duck,"hesays.Hehasn’tcalledmethatinages,notsinceIwasyoungerthanTeddy.GranwalksslowlytowhereIam,takinglittlegulpsofairasshecomes.Maybethosewoundedanimalsweren’tsuchgoodprepafterall.

           Thesocialworkerpullsovertwochairs,settingthemupatthefootofmybed."Mia,yourgrandparentsarehere."Shemotionsforthemtositdown."I’llleaveyoualonenow."

           "Canshehearus?"Granasks."Ifwetalktoher,she’llunderstand?"

           "Truly,Idon’tknow,"thesocialworkerresponds."Butyourpresencecanbesoothingsolongaswhatyousayissoothing."Thenshegivesthemasternlook,asiftotellthemnottosayanythingbadtoupsetme.Iknowit’sherjobtowarnthemaboutthingslikethisandthatsheisbusywithathousandthingsandcan’talwaysbesosensitive,butforasecond,Ihateher.

           Afterthesocialworkerleaves,GranandGrampssitinsilenceforaminute.ThenGranstartsprattlingonabouttheorchidsshe’sgrowinginhergreenhouse.Inoticethatshe’schangedoutofhergardeningsmockintoacleanpairofcorduroypantsandasweater.