Chapter 11
Jacksonville, FL
AS SOON AS I WAS awake enough to be functional the next morning, I made a bee-line for the bathroom. A shower and shave did wonders for me, so I got in the car and went straight to the hospital, stopping only to pick up coffee and a bagel at the nearest restaurant. By the time I reached the hospital, I’d finished the bagel and, carrying my coffee, I made my way to Mike’s room. As far as I could tell, he was still asleep, so I sat in the easy chair to wait. I couldn’t see his face from where I sat, but I could see the digital monitor above the bed, so I watched his vital signs. When I noticed a distinct change in his respiration rate, I stood up and looked at him. His eyes were open. Taking his hand, I bent over the bed and kissed him.
“Good morning,” I said.
