Page 80 of Jack

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Jack

It’s been the longest thirty-six hours of my life. This waiting room grows smaller by the minute. Doctor McCormick has returned to see us twice. He talks to Mom, not me. His reports haven’t changed much. Lily’s still stable. Her vitals have gotten a little stronger. Other than that, it’s all I know.

ICU is the best place for Lily right now. Their visiting schedule is nothing short of evil. This hospital’s visiting hours are 8 am to 10 pm. No one left last night until Lily was out of surgery, regardless of their schedule. My family, brothers, and friends have been in and out of the hospital all day. I refuse to leave. At least a few of my brothers stay with me at all times. The hospital staff doesn’t like it. The Sheriff allows it as long as we’re quiet. Nathan has questions. I’ve answered a few. Dad’s holding him off until we know Lily’s okay. The doctor still won’t confirm if she will be. ICU’s visiting hours are for two people for fifteenminutes every even hour on the hour from 8 am to 8 pm. They don’t deviate from it for anyone. I haven’t missed one.

My alarm goes off, alerting me that my first visit with Lily is in fifteen minutes. I peel myself out of the uncomfortable chair and start toward the door. It’s been too long since I’ve seen her. Jay follows me. My cousin won’t leave me. We’ve taken up residence in the waiting room. Jay won’t go inside the ICU. He always waits outside the doors for me to return.

Dana waits in the hallway outside the waiting room. She spent the first eight hours with Lily. I haven’t seen her since her shift ended the next morning. The other nurses don’t come get me like this.

“Good morning, Jack.” Dana smiles up at me.

“Morning. You’re happy today.”

“It’s a good day to smile.” Dana walks beside me to the elevator.

“Glad you think so,” I grumble.

“I know so.” Dana pushes the number three button after the door closes.

Is she lost? “We need two.” I reach to push the button for the ICU floor.

Dana grabs my hand. “Not today.”

“What?” There’s the universe throwing me a little hope again.

Even Jay feels it. He grabs my upper arms from behind and looks around me to Lily’s nurse.

“She’s not awake yet.” Dana smiles. A real smile, not one just trying to be nice. More hope blooms. “But she doesn’t need to be in ICU anymore. We’re moving her to a regular room.”

I never thought relief could be heavy. It pushes me down. I squat right here in the elevator. Jay’s hands tighten and shake. He releases a long breath. When the doors open on the third floor, not the second, today, Jay helps me stand.

We follow Dana into a private room. A fancy private room, but it’s empty. Lily’s not here. Dana moves about the room, pushing buttons on several machines. The monitors blink to life.

“Where is she?”

Dana keeps working. “She’ll be here in a few minutes. I thought you’d like to be here waiting for her.”

This is the best nurse I’ve seen yet. Well, Lily’s a nurse. If she’s anything like Dana, I see why she misses it. Until an angel is settled in their new location, they can’t have a job. They need a new name and ID first. Nick gets those made for us. Hopefully, Lily will soon be able to return to the job she loves.

“Yea. Thanks, Dana.”

She’s right. I wanna be here when they bring Lily in.

“I’m glad she’s going to be okay.” Jay pats my shoulder and pulls out his phone. “I’ll step out and let everyone know.”

“Jack.” Dana’s smile fades.

I release a slow, long breath. Hope slips again.

“She’s going to be okay, right?” I ask.

“She still has a long way to go. She’s doing better, getting stronger. She doesn’t need constant supervision anymore. She’s fighting, Jack. Help her fight. You can be here in this room with her all the time. Whisper encouragement in her ear. Tell her you love her as often as you can. This is good. It’s what we want for her. It means she’s on the right track. Tell your family, but be honest with them about it.”

Jay nods and steps out into the hall to make the calls.

It wasn’t confirmation Lily would pull through, but it’s the biggest hope anyone and the universe has given me. She’s fighting. That’s good. Great even. My angel’s fighting. Nothing will stop me from helping her fight.

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