Emily’s hand found mine.
She squeezed so hard her knuckles whitened.
The doctor noticed.
He noticed the swollen look around her eyes.
He noticed the way her whole body flinched when a male voice came from the hallway.
Doctors are trained to read bodies.
That morning, his face told me Emily’s body had said something I had not known how to hear.
“I need to speak with her alone,” he said.
“I’m her mother.”
“I know,” he said gently. “But it’s important.”
Emily started shaking her head before I could answer.
“No, please,” she whispered.
I wanted to refuse.
I wanted to plant myself beside her bed and tell every person in that hospital that she had been scared long enough.
But the doctor’s eyes did not leave mine.
There was something in them that made me step back.
A nurse led me into the hallway.
