ed, a prisoner of my in

ched

rformative worry for the hospital staff, then c

h a professional detachment that chilled

goofy older brother. Now, he wa

ould

e family I trusted,

ng, Richard' s business ties to the Davenp

t

n, my futu

ey to what they wanted.

the pain and despair, a tiny, hard e

voice a raw whisper

cialist.

d, his touch maki

. We're pushing everyone. Yo

ed away quickl

sis, focus on getting b

ere hollow, echoing

y constructed to keep me placi

eyes, feigni

heir faces, not with love, but

ters wearing f

came in to change

the pain of the wound

his voice softer than usual, alm

at him, searching for a flicker

. Just a careful,

" I managed to say

ape, roll down m

ion. "Don't cry. We'll get through this. Dad and I w

eezed my un

mance was

re the

ad away, a sil

inside me glowed