(Lena)
Cole had fallen asleep in the chair.
I noticed it sometime after nine, his head tilted slightly to one side, his breathing slow and even, still in the clothes he had come to the hospital in. He had fought it for as long as he could, I could tell by the way he kept straightening up every time his eyes dropped, but eventually his body had made the decision for him.
I watched him for a moment and then reached carefully for my phone on the side table.
Dad first.
He picked up on the second ring.
"Lena." His voice was the version of calm that meant he had been waiting for this call and had been holding himself together until it came.
"Hi Dad," I said.
"You sound better than I expected," he said.
"I feel better than I expected," I said. "A little groggy still but okay."
He exhale
