Madison: Alma has hip surgery tomorrow at 11

Me: how are you holding up?

I dial her phone before she can respond.

“Hello.” Her voice sounds so small.

“Are you home?” I ask in almost a whisper. I know she’ll hear me as I speak into the mic and wear my earphones.

“Yes,” she yawns. “I’ve been home about 30 minutes. How about you?”

“I’m on the bus back to the hotel,” I explain in a hushed voice. I try not to draw the ...