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Then I heard the voice in ton? You are slowly co back to me You want to be here too And I want you back I miss you…

"Lexi?" my daddy whispered sadly, and I whippedhim before he could say more I couldn’t hear anyto in there?" I blurted out, atte to the fareatest tool

My daddy rocked on his feet and his face reddened That meant it was

"Doctor-patient confidentiality, Lexi You know I can’t tell you why"

I nodded my head and looked wistfully down the hallway once more

My daddy cleared his throat "Do you know Austin Carillo, Lexi? You’ve never mentioned him before," he asked cautiously I wanted to roll hter But I wasn’t sure Austin was as bad as he seeht in the suht I saw the real hi," I replied "He plays for the Tide He’s a wide receiver But I don’t know him well, no"

Daddy exhaled a pent-up breath in--I surmised--relief and rubbed his forehead with his hand He was stressed I reached out and tugged on the sleeve of his white coat, flashing him a proud smile He was such an exceptional doctor because he cared deeply for his patients He was, si Maxwell Hart MD was the chief oncologist for the district of Tuscaloosa because of his compassion and kindness for people--from any walk of life He volunteered for free clinics just so people without insurance didn’t have to suffer in pain Goes fro out where he can

My stoist That meant… Oh no! That meant someone in Carillo’s family must have cancer

"Who is it?" I whispered, deep e my throat I fixed my eyes on my daddy’s

"Who is what?" he asked in confusion

"Who in Austin’s family is sick? Who has cancer?" My voice had taken on a panicked tone For so someone in his family was sick made his behavior, and even his life choices, just that little bit s because he was paying for someone’s medical bills? Was that why he threatened ht I kneondering why I was so concerned I brushed off his worry and prohed in defeat "I’m not his doctor, Lexi Martin Sist, is his doctor Martin had to go across town to an eency and asked oing, but he shook his head and laid a hand on my shoulder The action made me freeze, and he quickly pulled it away

"I can’t say any more, sweetheart Hell, I’ve already stretched the ethical code as it is Just leave it be"

I flashed hi smile and noddedto a neurologist What the hell could be wrong?

"Okay, sweetheart, I gotta go and check on a fewdrive Come for dinner soon, okay Your ood-bye, walked casually in the opposite direction, but in the exact direction Carillo fled

Checking overmy head, I rushed down the hallway and tried to follow Austin’s path After searching every crevice, exit, and door, the hallway came to an abrupt end, and there was only one door left--the entrance to the garden sanctuary This garden was created by patients, a private space for patients to reflect, for solitude… for co to terht here with Daisy inmy hand on the wood of the door, I bowed hts as I read the plaque on the wall One is nearer God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on Earth--Dorothy G Gurney

I probably shouldn’t interrupt him But Austin seemed to be all alone And if he was upset, he shouldn’t be alone, should he?

Fivethe knob of the door to the--thankfully--empty landscaped sanctuary

A tiny flawless oasis in the hospital’s desert of pain