Chapter 13 - The Visit
Emma stood outside Claire's new room in the neurological step-down unit, holding a paper sunflower so tightly its stem bent. A social worker had explained the tubes, the brace on Claire's arm and the way she sometimes spoke slowly. Nobody had told Emma she had to be brave.
Inside, Claire was propped against pillows. When Emma appeared, Claire's eyes filled. She lifted her left hand, but couldn't raise the right one easily.
"Hi, Mommy," Emma said. "I brought you a flower that can't break."
Claire reached for the paper petals. "Pretty," she whispered.
Emma climbed carefully onto the chair beside the bed. The nurse helped her lean close enough for a gentle hug. Claire pressed her cheek against Emma's hair, and a sound escaped her that was half laugh, half sob.
"You got me," Emma said quietly.
Claire closed her eyes and nodded.
Then Emma asked, "Mommy, did Aunt Mallory throw the flower thing because I was bad?"
Daniel answered first. "No, sweetheart. You didn't do anything wrong."
Claire took the writing pad and slowly formed three words: NOT YOUR FAULT.
Emma traced the letters with one finger. "Can I keep this?"
The nurse made a copy. Emma folded it into her pocket as carefully as she'd carried the flower.
After the visit, the physical therapist tested Claire's balance and strength. She could stand for a short time with assistance, but the right side of her body remained weak. She was exhausted by the effort of crossing six feet of floor.
"Will this get better?" Daniel asked.
"We expect rehabilitation to help," the therapist said. "But I won't promise you'll get every ability back exactly as it was."
May you like
Later that night she asked the nurse for her phone. She opened a message to Daniel and typed slowly, one letter at a time.
I NEED YOU TO HEAR ME EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT I SAY.
