NOAH
"Work is a mess," I said to his still face. His eyes stayed closed. "There was another rumor about you this morning. People love to talk."
I paused, waiting for an answer I knew wouldn't come.
"Your father shut it down fast, though. He told everyone you're fine. He said you're stable and you're getting better."
My mouth tightened as I said the words. "They don't know the truth. They don't know you're in here, fighting like this."
I thought about the walk to the hospital. "I saw a cat on my way home yesterday," I told him. "It was sitting right in the middle of the road. There was a car coming, and the cat didn't even flinch. It just sat there and stared the car down."
I took a breath. I almost laughed, but it felt thin and hollow. "It reminded me of you. Which is bad news for the cat, honestly."
