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Brenda and Phil gathered close and took his hand, the three of theh

Oren glanced around the roo coaze landed onthe straw to his chapped lips He drank a few sips and then closed his eyes and sighed in relief

I set the cup on the side tray "Do you want me to raise the bed so you can sit up?" They’d stopped elevating his broken leg, so I didn’t think there would be any proble him more comfortable if that’s what he wanted

And he did With a nod, he murmured, "Yes Thank you"

I pressed the bedside button and watched his face as his torso was lifted When he opened his eyes and lifted a hand, letting azeoverand tried to think up a reason to give hih to be a nurse," he slurred sleepily

I started to siven him a drink and adjusted his bed, but then he turned away fro aze zipped to his parents, only to find they were staring right back, alarm in their eyes Brenda returned her attention to her son "Oren?" she said fearfully

"Yeah?" His soft, raspy voice ain He’d never once tried to reach for me

He kneho she was He kneho his father was He kneho he was

But he didn’t knoho I was

Fear, dark and cold, rushed into me Oren didn’t knoho I was How could he not knoho I was?

"Where’s Zoey?" he asked, glancing around the room

"Oh shit," Phil whispered

I covered my mouth with both hands and took a step backward Oren’s parents exchanged a horrified glance before they looked across the bed atto deny it, but one of the worst things possible had happened He’d lost his recent ht his sister was alive

Catching all the distress in the roo? Is she okay? What happened? Why am I here? Where’s my sister?"