The doctor entered with a tired smile. “Good news—fluids are helping. Labs look stable. You can take them home later.” Lisa breathed like someone surfacing after staying under too long.
Helen brushed Emma’s hair from her damp forehead. “We’ll make soup,” she murmured. “We’ll build our strength back.” Then she turned to Lisa. “If you aren’t planning to move away.”
Silence again, but this time it wasn’t empty—it was a bridge waiting for footsteps.
