Если я останусь
7:13 P.M.
"CanIhelpyou,youngman?"sheasksAdam.Hervoicesoundsirritatedandimpatient,likesomeofDad’stenuredcolleaguesatschoolwhoDadsaysarejustcountingthedaystillretirement.
Adamclearshisthroat,attemptingtopullhimselftogether."I’dliketovisitapatient,"hesays,gesturingtowardthedoorsblockinghimfromtheICU.
"I’mafraidthat’snotpossible,"shereplies.
"Butmygirlfriend,Mia,she’s—"
"She’sbeingwellcaredfor,"thenurseinterrupts.Shesoundstired,tootiredforsympathy,tootiredtobemovedbyyounglove.
"Iunderstandthat.AndI’mgratefulforit,"Adamsays.He’stryinghisbesttoplaybyherrules,tosoundmature,butIhearthecatchinhisvoicewhenhesays:"Ireallyneedtoseeher."
"I’msorry,youngman,butvisitationsarerestrictedtoimmediatefamily."
IhearAdamgasp.Immediatefamily.Thenursedoesn’tmeantobecruel.She’sjustclueless,butAdamwon’tknowthat.Ifeeltheneedtoprotecthimandtoprotectthenursefromwhathemightdotoher.Ireachforhim,oninstinct,eventhoughIcannotreallytouchhim.Buthisbackistomenow.Hisshouldersarehunchedover,hislegsstartingtobuckle.
Kim,whowashoveringnearthewall,issuddenlyathisside,herarmsencirclinghisfallingform.Withbotharmslockedaroundhiswaist,sheturnstothenurse,hereyesblazingwithfury."Youdon’tunderstand!"shecries.
"DoIneedtocallsecurity?"thenurseasks.
Adamwaveshishand,surrenderingtothenurse,toKim.
