“They have dots,” she informed me solemnly from her bed.
“They’re anti-slip dots.”
“They’re orange.”
“That does seem serious.”
“They don’t match anything.”
Harlan was sitting beside her.
For the first time all night, I saw him smile.
It changed his entire face.
“Your medical crisis is now officially fashion-related.”
Belle frowned at him.
“You don’t understand.”
“Clearly.”
She looked at me.
“You understand.”
“Completely.”
Harlan sighed.
“I’m outnumbered.”
Belle smiled.
Then she noticed my coat folded on the chair.
“That’s yours.”
“It is.”
“You gave it to me.”
“You looked colder than I was.”
Her expression grew serious.
“Thank you.”
Something tightened behind my ribs.
“You’re welcome, Belle.”
“You can have it back now.”
“Very generous.”
She nodded, apparently satisfied.
A nurse came in to check her monitor.
I reached for my coat.
It was time.
Really time.
Harlan followed me into the hallway.
