The nurse saw it.
The receptionist saw it.
The orderly saw it.
The doctor saw it most of all.
Emily’s cracked phone buzzed from the hoodie pocket on the chair.
The nurse picked it up because Emily flinched at the sound.
A new message glowed on the screen.
It had arrived at 4:29 a.m.
The nurse looked down.
Her expression went still.
Then she turned the phone toward the doctor.
Michael backed up half a step.
That told me everything before I read a single word.
The message was not long.
It did not need to be.
You tell her one word about what happened and I will make both of you sorry.
I read it once.
Then again.
The hallway sharpened around me.
The reception desk.
The paper coffee cup.
The small American flag beside the computer.
The orange band on Emily’s wrist.
All of it became strangely clear.
