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I glanced up at her parents, who stared at her like she was going to disappear any minute "You heard about that?"

"It was quite the talk of the nurses" Her eyes greide and she sucked in a breath, then coughed weakly Her next breath et and rattling, and seeth to pull in

I took her hand, and she squeezed it

Her mother held on to her other arm above the IV "You shouldn’t talk," she said "You still have a long way to go"

Corabelle nodded and closed her eyes "Nooff down hallways"

I frowned What was she talking about?

Her parents looked shaken and guilty So had happened I lifted her hand tofor a ain "I know" She turned her head to her dad "Be nice to hi "Of course, baby"

"You used to be close" Her voice began to trail off

The nurse came up behind us "Let’s let her rest You all should take a little break and go ho her until totoo eht out, but I lingered as long as I could get aith, until she stood in the doorway and said, "It’s time"

Mr and Mrs Rotheford waited out by the desk When I came out, he passedcare of things"

I held the heavy ring in my palm "I have tried, sir"

"We’ll see you toht then" He turned to the door and walked with his wife over to the elevators

I stared at the keys and the silver butterfly on a chain that held thee hislot of the funeral ho out, and he had told hter

I would not let hi changed in style and brightness as we h the hallways and back to one of the uys in blue scrubs controlled the bed, and I forcedembarrassed as we rolled down hallhere normal healthy people could walk past My face was half covered with a surgicalprotected from me, or me from them