As it turned, Pudica's wound was superficial, so the doctor sent her home with three stitches and a bandage which was weird, considering she had nowhere to go. Fortunately, she had told a nurse about her clothes burning down so she brought her a pair of black sweatpants, a pink jersey, fresh underwear and a jacket from the unfashionable donation box. The shirt was enormous on her, but she gathered the bottom hem and tied it into a knot over her hip.
With surgical masks covering their faces, the hospital staff looked the same to her. She arrived at the waiting room and quickly spotted the few not wearing scrubs. A nurse commanded Sutton to fix the bandana over his nose.
"Oliver," she spoke from behind her mask in a neutral tone, doubting whether she should sound amorous in public.
