After three weeks of daily visits, she should have gotten used to it, but her stomach still clenche

l window, she could see her father propped up in bed, looking smaller somehow than he had yesterday. Th

pushing through the door wit

n his lap, his face lighting up despite the exhausti

le the lunch rush alone, unable to concentrate on latte art when Dr. Patel's words

familiar visitor's chair, noting how his b

t quite reach his eyes. "Though this crossword is kick

o think, grateful for t

at made her heart race. When it passed, he squeezed h

eight years now, but her father still spoke of her like she might walk through the door any moment. So

ssional smile, but Lena had learned to read the subtle signs-the slight tight

how are we fe

athon," Vincent sai

"I appreciate the optimism. Lena, could

spital dreaded. She followed the doctor into the hallway on unsteady legs, her father's chee

" Dr. Patel said without preamble. Her kindness was in her directness-no fal

nt dry. "What d

rimental therapy-immunotherapy combined with targeted radiation

ena's chest. "That'

paused, and Lena knew what was coming before the words left her mouth. "Insurance doesn't cover experiment

e made barely thirty thousand a year managing the café. Her savings account had exa

words scraped

nths. With the experimental therapy, we're looking at potent

ing she'd been worried about making rent. Now she was calculating how

ntinued gently. "Financial assistance p

quickly. "Yes,

emember how to breathe. The hospital moved around her in its usual rhythm-nurses checking charts, visitors clutc

her world hadn't just crumbled. He won three hands of gin rummy, crowing about his victory with the same competi

hundred and fifty thousand dollars. She could work three lifetimes and never save tha

ed into Grind Coffee and immediately flipped

iend since high school. She had an uncanny ability to re

croissants. Her father's prognosis, the experimental treatment, the impossible cost. By

d this out. There has to be something. What about GoFundMe? Or call

Even if I raised half that money, it wouldn't be e

n them. Outside, the afternoon crowd hurried past their darkened

, her voice taking on a manic edge that usual

ooked up, sure

off at charity galas. You're gorgeous, you're smart, you can make conversation about anything from Proust to the Lake

that's

for money, for business connections, for whatever. Why shouldn't you? Find some rich guy who need

ing about pr

en consenting adults. Rich people do it constan

aborate joke. But Sofia's dark eyes held only fierce determination and

t-where exactly would I find this

ask. I may have already been doing some research." She turned the sc

ia,

t these testimonials. 'Executive seeks intelligent companions for social functions and travel.'

dsome men in expensive suits, brief descriptions that read like corporate

m even considering

looking at options. Which is what any smart pers

a meeting to discuss payment options. The reminder of her reality sent fresh pani

me if he knew I was ev

e what happens. Maybe nothing comes of it and we find another way. But

eration made people do things they never thought they could do. Maybe love for the

in with the weight of impossible choices. Lena stood

she said, grab

a, w

orhood felt different somehow, like she was seeing them through new eyes. The bodega where she bought her morning coffee, the laundromat where she

building. Unknown number. She almost sent it

el

an edge that suggested its owner was used to being listened to.