Angel sat outside the pediatric ICU with Gabriela on one side, Duke on the other. Everything was surreal. An intern had stopped to ask the Bronx Bolt for an autograph, but Gabriela barked at the man like a rabid dog and he skittered away.

“Don’t bother, Gabriela,” Duke said over Angel’s head. “Some people just don’t get it. They’ll interrupt the most personal moments. They don’t care.”

“I guess you won’t miss that.”

They were all quiet again.

Then a doctor came out, her wrinkled face tired. “Ms. Gomez?” she said to the group.

Angel jumped up. “How is he? Is he okay?”

“He is alive; he is back to breathing on his own. But … he’s not waking up.”

Gabriela grabbed the doctor’s arm. “My Lord, he’s in a coma?”

The doctor patted her hand, then gently removed it. “It’s far too early to say he’s in a coma. I’m the head of pediatrics here, and I believe his brain may just need rest, so let’s give him some time. I know it’s scary, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it. There is reason to be concerned.”

Angel’s legs felt weak. Duke slid an arm around her; it was the only reason she didn’t fall.

“On the other hand,” the doctor continued, “he was never completely without oxygen, thanks to your CPR. You got him to us very quickly, and we have him stable. For now, we’re just going to sit tight, watch him closely. We’ll reassess in an hour or two, decide if we need to change our plan.” The doctor tucked a clipboard under her arm. “Ms. Gomez, I know it’s hard. But we’re going to do our very best to help your boy.”

“Oh.” It was all she could say. There was so much more. The only other thing she could push out, though, was a strangled, “Thank you.”

“You think this was triggered by his asthma, correct? Has he been using his inhaler?”

“Yes. Jose had one on him. He used it right before his game. Duke gave him another dose when he first collapsed.”

Next to her, she felt Duke recoil. He dug the inhaler out of his pocket and handed it to the doctor. “I hope to God it wasn’t my fault. I put it into his mouth and pushed down at least three times.” He rubbed his chin. “I don’t know, was that too much? Did I do it wrong?”

The doctor frowned. “No, no, it sounds like you did what you could.” She appraised the inhaler. Flipping it over, scrutinizing the label, her frown grew deeper. “Where’d you get this? It’s not marked by a pharmacy or medical office.”

“Our doctor gave it to us. Dr. Collins, in Mount Eden, at the clinic.”