ALEXANDER

I hadn't changed my clothes in almost forty-eight hours. I had spent another night with Rubby, and by morning my clothes smelled like hospital disinfectant.

I had pleaded with Rubby's parents to go home for that night; thankfully, they agreed, and by morning, they were back with clothes, bedspreads and food.

"You should go too; you need to freshen up and change," Rubby's mom said and held my wrist.

Her voice was terribly hoarse now, she must have cried all through the ...