65
She looked up at the sound of Clare’s voice to find her standing in the doorway of Dante’s apartment, looking wan and tired in a flowered nightgown. A plastic tube was hooked over her ears and fitted beneath her nose, delivering oxygen from a small metal tank on wheels she dragged behind her. In one arm she clutched the largest teddy bear Ember had ever seen; it was almost as big as she was. “Hi, honey,” Ember said gently. She knew instinctively Clare had gotten worse since they’d met. She glanced at Dante and a look passed between them: act normal. “It’s nice to see you, Clare.” Clare smiled at her, a true smile, wide and happy, and Ember felt a squeeze inside her chest. “I have to go back to the hospital tomorrow,” Clare said, matter-of-factly. “My bugs are getting bad again.” The sq
- Writer
