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His gaze goes back out the“Yeah Looks like I’ery on eon is here, it just made sense”

I kneas facing another surgery just as I know he’s facing oing to walk again, he’s going to have to start from scratch The team’s doctor keeps us updated Everyone is worried about Baden, and we’re all searching for glimmers of hope

I let the silence settle in, hoping he’ll take the initiative to start a conversation But as with every one offocused out the

No o determined that even if Baden didn’t want to talk, his ears orking and he could listen

Over the suiood meals I’d eaten, and some local travels

But now, I decide to tell him a different sort of story—perhaps to entertain hi to me—and I start out with pure, old-fashioned flourish

“Once upon a time, there was a fair maiden named Mollie,” I say

Baden turns h his eyes are blank and there doesn’t seem to be a scintilla of evidence he’s truly interested in what I just said, I take heart fro me his attention

I continue my story “Mollie was an adventurer While she was beautiful enough to have a prince sweep her off her feet and keep her happy with riches and fineries inside his castle, she preferred to drive a converted van across the open road and see the world”

“Your best friend,” Baden mutters “I’ve heard you talk about her before”

I nod enthusiastically Leaning forward in my chair, I rest my elbows on ht as two people could be Or so I thought”

I’h it is ever so slight