The floor rose toward me. Dante caught me before my knees struck the tile. I fought him with every fragment of strength left in my body.The floor rose toward me. Dante caught me before my knees struck the tile. I fought him with every fragment of strength left in my body.

14 a.m.
Mrs. Alvarez sat beside Lily, exactly as she had in Dante’s photograph. Lily was awake now, clutching a paper cup and patting the lid with both hands.
A man in blue medical scrubs entered.
His surgical mask covered most of his face.
He spoke to Mrs. Alvarez.
There was no audio, but I saw her shoulders stiffen.
The man showed her something on his continue reading …