Her mom placed her hand against Lynell’s jaw, and Lynell covered it with her own, a silent tear falling onto the hospital bed.

“Don’t leave me,” Lynell had cried.

Elizabeth’s voice was dry and quiet. “I love you, little Lynell. Do better than I did. Rule better than your father did. Love better than both of us, and you’ll change the world.”

There wasn’t anything they could do, the doctors said. They were sorry, everyone at the funeral said. She was in a better place. So be it when life Registers you.

She wakes up but doesn’t remember falling asleep. Pain fills her. In her face, in her body, everywhere. She tries to take a deep breath and open her eyes, but the world stays dark and the pain paralyzes her. Her body seems to be floating in a pool of thick blood. There is no up and no down. There is no light and no air.

She can hear voices. One deep and male, one feminine, and one familiar.

Then she hears her own groan, and the voices cease.

Light streams in from every angle when she finally opens her eyes. Everything is white, and the world comes into focus slowly, and Lynell begins to make out the faces around her.

There’s a doctor with black hair and a gray beard, wearing a long white coat with a name tag that says, “Dr. Springers,” an older woman with gray hair in deep blue scrubs, and Hayes.

“Good timing, boss,” Hayes says. “Just got a call from Ramsey, he’s got the team settled, ready to answer to you. And to ask some questions.”

Lynell frowns and opens her mouth to respond, but her throat is a dry slope of rocks.

“As I said, sir,” the nurse interrupts before Lynell can say anything, “she needs rest before receiving visitors.” She pushes Hayes away from the bed.

“She’s been resting for hours,” Hayes says, almost pouting at the nurse.

“She was in surgery and recovery,” Dr. Springers says. “That’s not resting.”

Lynell looks at the doctor and down at her hand, which is in a cast.

“You need to leave now, son. She can have visitors tomorrow,” Dr. Springers says to Hayes.

“As I told you,” Hayes replies, filling an amount of authority in his voice that surprises Lynell. “I’m staying. I won’t talk to her if you insist, but she needs a guard in the room.”

“We’ve already permitted two guards outside,” the nurse replies. She looks severely annoyed. “I assure you this hospital is very secure.”

“I don’t think you understand who this is,” Hayes starts.

“You’ve made it very clear who she is,” Dr. Springers says. He looks ready to argue, lifting his shoulders, but then concedes and says, “No talking.”

Hayes gives the doctor a curt nod and moves to the edge of the room, standing tall with his hands behind his back.

The nurse frowns, and Dr. Springers picks up a tablet, shaking his head. He taps on the screen a few times before beginning to check all the machines.