Dr. Melendez started to leave. “I encourage you to rest some more. Sleep is the best medicine for a healing brain. I’ll be back in the morning to check on you and ask some questions to figure out your progress.” She smiled at Jax. “But for now, I’ll let you relax and enjoy the rest of visiting hours.” Jax felt overwhelmed in the odd silence that followed Dr. Melendez’s exit.

Gretchen ran her fingertip back and forth over Jax’s knuckles. The motion was soothing, and then it stopped. She worried at Gretchen’s wide-eyed stare.

“Caleb?” Gretchen whispered, her voice crackling with dryness and instability. The name was said so quietly, it could barely be heard over outside noise.

Jax saw the panic and worry plainly written on Gretchen’s face. The same look she’d had before the seizure. “You don’t remember, do you?” A chill crept into her chest. She felt silly for hoping Gretchen’s brain would cooperate just this once. She rubbed her face and walked to the window. The darkness outside matched her life. “Caleb is four and a half.” Jax knew she shouldn’t be mad at Gretchen for what was happening, but she couldn’t keep the anger out of her tone. She looked at Gretchen’s reflection in the window but couldn’t bear to turn around yet. “He wants to have a bowling party for his birthday, and just last week you and I were fighting about him going to kindergarten.” Jax turned to lean her back against the windowsill. She crossed her arms and stared at the doorway. “His preschool teacher recommended keeping him back because he has a hard time concentrating. I was willing to hear her out, but you cried. You insisted he was just energetic, and that there’s nothing wrong with that. He needs to adapt, and we shouldn’t cater to the whims of the school.”

Gretchen shook her head. She touched her face and winced.

Jax rushed over and pulled Gretchen’s hand away. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. The stitches are out, but your scabs are pretty fresh.” Jax dropped Gretchen’s hand and stepped back. She really needed to stop protecting and touching Gretchen so easily. She backed away awkwardly and found safety against the far wall. She felt helpless as she watched Gretchen look around in confusion, completely out of sorts.

Gretchen raised her hand weakly and motioned for Jax to come closer. She wanted to stay where she was—she wanted to keep her distance and not make anything more difficult than it already was. But Gretchen looked so fragile and damaged. Jax stepped forward helplessly and sat on the side of the mattress Gretchen patted so invitingly. She couldn’t look in Gretchen’s eyes without wanting to cry, so she chose to look at a small piece of Gretchen’s curly hair that clung to her white pillowcase.