Chapter Twenty-Seven
ONE WEEK LATER
Lisa Kramer opened her eyes. The room lights were bright and painful. Her head hurt, and her gown was wet from sweat. She recognized the container of IV fluid above the bed and could feel where the catheter entered her forearm. The oxygen mask irritated her face, so she removed it. That simple act tired her, and she closed her eyes to rest.
The next time she opened them, she saw an elderly woman with a mask covering her face, looking down at her. The oxygen mask was back on Lisa’s face. The woman held an electronic screen and focused on the readings it displayed.
“Please leave it off.,” Lisa said as she reached for the oxygen mask, her voice dry and raspy.
“Oh, you’re awake. That’s exciting! How do you feel?”
Lisa could tell that the voice belonged
