“I need the charge nurse in room twelve,” she said.
Her voice was still quiet.
My mother’s face changed.
Tessa took a step back.
“Are you serious?” Tessa said. “It was literally one second.”
The nurse looked at me.
Her face softened just enough for me to feel it.
“Can you speak?” she asked.
I tried.
My throat scraped.
Only air came out.
She poured water into a small plastic cup with a straw and held it near my mouth.
I took one careful sip.
It hurt to swallow, but I swallowed.
“Did you ask her to disconnect the monitor?” she asked.
I moved my head slightly.
No.
Tessa laughed again, but this time it sounded thin.
“Oh my God, she can nod now. Great. Very convincing.”
The nurse did not even look at her.
“Did you feel safe with them in the room?” she asked me.
That was the question that broke something open.
