“I don’t want to talk about that,” Cora said flatly, instantly becoming guarded.

“Okay,” I said, picking up one of the bracelets designed in shades of blue: turquoise and navy. “These are pretty. Who did you make them for?”

She held up her wrist. “This one was for me, of course, and we made one for Jordyn that looks just like mine. And that one—” she nodded toward the one I’m holding “—is for my sister.”

“May I sit?” I asked.

“Sure,” Cora said and I pulled a chair next to her bedside. “What about this one?” I pointed to the remaining bracelet on the tray. She shrugged. “What about your friend Violet? Did you make one for her?”

Cora poked at her oatmeal, cooled now to a gray paste, with her spoon and didn’t say anything.

“How is Violet?” I asked, watching her face carefully.

Again Cora shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to her.”

“Ah,” I said. “She hasn’t called or visited you yet.”

“I don’t have a cell phone so she couldn’t call me, anyway, but she hasn’t come to visit.” She was trying to act indifferent but the visible part of her face told a different story.

“Maybe her mom won’t let her. The two of you had something very traumatic happen to you. Sometimes people don’t quite know what to say or how to act.” Cora remained silent. “Have you thought about calling Violet yourself?”

“My mom says that Violet should be the one to call me. Not the other way around. But yeah, I thought about it.”

“How does that make you feel?” I asked the age-old question.

“Sad, I guess. Lonely. I thought we were best friends.”

“What about other kids from your school? Have you heard from any of them?”

“Just Jordyn. No one else.” Cora shook her head and then winced and touched her lips gingerly.

“Are you in much pain? Do you want me to call the nurse?”

“No, that’s okay. My stomach hurts only when I get up. My eye and mouth hurts, but my mom says that once my mouth heals they’ll fix my teeth. I’ll get fake ones. Here and here.” She opened her mouth in a gap-toothed grimace.

“I bet you’re looking forward to that.”

“Yeah, but I don’t like going to the dentist,” she said.

“Me, either.” After all that Cora has been through, I thought, the terror and the pain, the dentist was the least of her worries. “How have you been sleeping, Cora? Are you getting some rest?” It was hard to tell by looking at her because the exposed portion of her face was storm-cloud purple.

“You can’t tell anyone what I say to you, right? You’re my doctor so it’s a secret?”