Chapter 71: Chapter 71

“Don’t you want to take a little break…get something to eat? We’ll come get you in the cafeteria if she starts to wake up.”

The sound of someone’s voice in the quiet room startled Lori. She looked up into the warm smile that Major Shirley McDowell offered. Lori hesitated. Her body ached from sitting in the chair all night. Maybe a cup of coffee and some cereal would make her feel better. Her stomach rumbled its accord.

“Come on, come on,” the nurse urged. “We haven’t enough beds here for you to get sick. You’ll help your sister a lot more if you’re well when she wakes up and needs you, instead of sick from malnutrition like she is. Now go. I’ll send someone down to the cafeteria for you if anything changes.”

Lori smiled. “Thanks,” she said, “you’re being very nice.”

“No, I’m not. I’m being a bitch. I don’t want another patient to look after.”