Edward turned away before Hausner finished his assessment. Edward knew. He didn’t have to listen or look any further. Hausner tried to find his words before facing me. He only got as far as “I’m sorry.” Edward kept his eyes to the floor. The boy was dead and since this was old news to me, I said nothing.
*
It really was a dreadful situation, despite the serenity in the exam room. Hausner gave Edward and me a few moments alone. I suppose he wanted us to talk, or for Edward to console me, or something. We didn’t. He sat next to the table and we just looked around the room. I watched the lump in his neck wriggle under pale skin with his every tiny swallow and futile attempt to speak. When Hausner returned, he suggested that we look at our options, but as it turned out, I didn’t have any. On
