The muscle in his cheek twitched. He wasn’t used to anyone talking to him like that. At least not anymore. Myra’s small fingers squeezed mine. I forced my voice to soften for her sake. “You’ll be fine, sweetheart,” I said, kneeling briefly again. “Remember what I told you. You have to take deep breaths, small steps, and soon you'll have a steady heart.”
She nodded, trying hard not to cry again. “You’ll come?”
I smiled faintly. “When the time’s right.”
I stood and turned to leave, but his voice followed me.
“Doctor Lean.”
This time, it was on a lighter tone. I stopped, not looking back. “Yes?”
“Are you running from something,” he asked, “or someone?”
My chest grew heavy immediately. “Neither. I learned that running doesn’t save anyone.”
There was silence again and it was a heavy one
