I woke with a dry mouth and a hard ache in my body. For a second I did not know where I was. Then the ceiling tiles and the smell told me: hospital.
The door was half open. A nurse stood near the foot of the bed and wrote on a chart. Her pen moved fast. When she saw my eyes open, she set the chart down and reached for the call button.
“Don't call anyone yet," I said. My voice was rough, but steady enough. “Please answer me first."
She hesitated. “You fainted in the hall," she said. “You should rest."
“I will rest after you answer me." I pushed myself up and felt the bandage pull on my arm. “The herb I brought—did you give it to Nancy? Did it help her?"
The nurse's gaze skipped away from mine. She pressed her lips together. “Ms. Laurel, you should—"
“Please," I said. “Do not go around
