“How long?” Desiree asked quietly.

Her voice was barely audible, as if the question alone weighed too much to be said aloud. Tears blurred her vision, gathering until the ceiling lights above her became blurry.

Felicia hesitated.

That hesitation was all Desiree needed.

“Desiree—”

“How long has he been gone, Felicia?” Desiree snapped, her voice echoing through the sterile room. “How long?”

Felicia exhaled slowly, the kind of one a doctor took when she knew the next words ...