“What are you talking about?” I asked her. I looked at Grandpa and Shapiro, but they kept their eyes on the floor, avoiding me.

“Don’t take it hard. Happens to the best of us,” she said, and once again put her hand on mine.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said, riled. But I kept my hand beneath hers.

“You should listen to her,” Shapiro said. “Girlie here is a med student.”

I was starting to feel light-headed.

“Drink some water and rest your head,” she said before I managed to figure out what I was feeling. She leaned my head on her shoulder and started brushing her fingers through my hair. I was hoping she wouldn’t stop.

Shapiro told Grandpa they had a new game in the unit. Whenever Gourevitch fell asleep during guard duty, someone would sneak up on him from behind and rasp in his ear, “Neuerman’s coming!” He said Gourevitch jolted in fear every time. Grandpa laughed.

After half an hour or so, Avigail announced it was time to get going, and I had to part with her soft body. Shapiro promised to get a few sick days and come visit again. Avigail just smiled without saying a word.

Grandpa and I stayed alone on the roof. He gazed at the high-rises of the diamond district, and I looked up at the sky, waiting for the dizziness to pass.

“Nice girl, Shapiro’s granddaughter,” he said.

“Yup,” I replied. “Nice.”

“You know, once upon a time this roof had a full view of the sea.”

A sinking heaviness took over me, slowly spreading throughout my body. My every muscle. Had Dad been there, he would have whispered in my ear that Grandpa was talking nonsense again. I just wanted to go back to sleep. Back to a place where I didn’t need to face reality.

“Mom sent me an email saying she was on her way over,” I said.

“When do you think she’ll be here?”

“I’m guessing she’s already on the plane.”

“You must be happy about it.”

“If coming here for five minutes is what helps her feel like she’s being a decent human being, then whatever floats her boat.”

“Come on, Yuli, enough. Give her a chance.”

“You can’t give a chance to someone who’s never been there,” I said.

Grandpa sighed. “Maybe there are things you don’t know,” he replied. “Things I don’t know either. You can’t judge her like that.”

“So who can?” I asked. “Who’s allowed to judge her?”

“I don’t know, Yuli, I honestly don’t.”

We sat there silently for a few moments.

“Are you angry at him?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “Are you?”

“Very.”

His eyes became red. He turned his gaze back to the high-rises.