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“Can you tell us where we’d find her?”

“Relationship?”

“I’m a close friend.”

The woman sighed, as if Isabel had just lost the grand prize on anall-important game show. “I’m afraid I’m not authorized to release thatinformation.”

“But her sister is here, too,” Isabel said quickly, and grabbedGia, dragging her front and center. “Right here. Certainly that rule doesn’tapply to family.”

“You’re the sister?” the woman asked, clearly skeptical.

“Yes. I’m the sister. Can you tell me how she is?”

“All I know is that particular patient is in intensive care on thefourth floor. They can tell you more about her condition there.”

Gia’s heart fell further. Intensive care? She looked to Isabel,who squeezed her hand.

“It’s gonna be okay. It will. You need to be strong right now. Canyou do that?”

Gia nodded, but didn’t believe it for a moment.

By the time they arrived on the fourth floor, Gia was a basketcase, watching her entire journey with Elle play back in her mind like acherished home movie. This couldn’t be the end. They’d barely even had abeginning.

“Hi,” Isabel said to the woman behind the nurse’s station. “We’relooking for my friend’s sister, Elle Britton. She was brought in a short timeago.”

The nurse squinted back at Isabel. “One moment.” After a quick perusalof her screen, she came back to them. “No patient by that name.”

“Are you sure?” Gia asked.

“Positive.”

“Maybe they have her listed under another name for privacy,” Giaoffered. “Is that possible?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“She was in a surfing accident,” Isabel said.

“Oh! Well, why didn’t you say so?” The nurse pointed with her chindown the hall. “Four-eleven.”

Isabel tapped on the counter. “Thank you.” She headed off in thedirection the nurse indicated, but turned back when she realized Gia was notwith her. “You coming?” Isabel asked gently.

But Gia couldn’t move. Nope. In this moment, as far as Gia knew,Elle was going to be okay. If she walked down that hall and learned the realityof the situation, that might no longer be the case. She just needed to hang ontothismomentfor a beat longer. It was all she had.

Isabel returned to her. “Whatever we’re facing, I’m right herewith you. Look at me. Not going anywhere.”

Gia nodded and accepted Isabel’s offered hand. With each steptoward room 411, Gia’s fear catapulted. Tears pooled in her eyes, and herstomach dropped out from beneath her.

“Gia?”

She knew that voice as intimately as her own. She turned around.Was she hallucinating? The image was too beautiful to be real. Too wonderful,which meant her mind was playing tricks on her. She was afraid to believe whatwas right there. Elle walked toward them, wearing a pair of scrubs, a curiouslook on her face. Her hair was damp and her eyes were red. “What are you guysdoing here?”

It took Gia a moment to speak. She was too overcome with emotion.Before she knew it, she was moving to Elle and pulling her into a crushing hug,which Elle slowly returned. Gia heard the sounds then and realized they camefrom her. She was sobbing, unable hold back the flood of emotion a momentlonger. She gripped the back of Elle’s scrubs and held on, crying into thecrook of her neck. “Are you okay?” she sobbed, pulling Elle in tighter,inhaling her scent.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Elle whispered to her. She stepped back and tookGia’s face in her hands. “Look at me. I’m okay. See? I promise.”

“I thought you were badly hurt. I thought maybe it was worse thanthat.” Gia began to cry again, this time from relief as the understanding thatElle was all right slowly crept in.

“Shhh,” Elle said, steadying her by the shoulders. “I’m righthere, and not going anywhere. Please don’t cry.” With her thumbs, Elle gentlyswept away the tears on Gia’s cheeks. “I can’t stand to see you cry.”