Dr. Evans came in behind him, sweating through his collar. He kept his eyes on the equipment while he set an IV stand and a blood collection monitor beside the bed.
The machine's fan started with a low hum. Dr. Evans checked the tubing twice before he unwrapped the needle.
Adrian sat beside me, stroking my hair as if I were a nervous pet. “It’s alright, my love. Just a little pinch.”
I held out my arm. Dr. Evans swabbed the skin and inserted a thick-gauge needle. Blood moved through the clear tube into the collection bag.
Above the bed, the hidden camera's red light showed through the smoke detector cover. I kept my face turned toward it while the machine counted.
The bag filled. My fingers went numb first. Then the edges of the room blurred.
The monitor changed pitch and flashed a r
