“They’re saying carbon monoxide does that. The brain swelling, I mean. She made it to the hospital, and her vitals are stable, but she’s just… she’s not awake. They have her on the ventilator.” Caroline laughs a tiny, wet laugh and rubs her nose again. “The doctors keep saying when she wakes up. When, not if. And I want to believe them, but I’m just really scared that being bitterly disappointed will hurt way more than expecting the worst until proven wrong.”
“When is good, Caroline,” I tell her firmly.
It’s not like I have much in the way of confidence to give, nor am I in any position to be weighing in on matters of life and death. But this woman looks like she needs something, so I’ll lend her what I can, even if I have to fake it.
“Yeah. You’re right. It is, it is.” She looks down a
