Dominic continues to stand in the hospital room, long after the boy had already left. It’s eerily quiet. Normally a room is filled with tension, or some color at least, but the only life remaining seems to be the large collection of flowers lined up against the windowsill.
The roses he had brought look like a splash of blood among the sunflower yellow and baby blue daisies, a fresh wound to the hopeful message that the others before him had arranged. Dominic rubs at his eyes, trying to get the image of his poisonous presence out of his head.
Iris’ heart monitor beeps softly, at a consistent, almost unnatural pace. A mechanical screech in the otherwise peaceful atmosphere.
I wish I could take all your pain away.
Dominic had heard what the boy said before he all but ran out. He had tr
