They reached Will's examining room, and Ellen felt a wave of deja vu. Will lay under the covers, wearing a print hospital gown, looking tiny in the adult-size hospital bed. His head was bandaged with gauze, and he lay on the pillow with his eyes closed. Another nurse was putting up the guardrails of his bed, next to the ER doctor, a young man with rumpled hair who stopped writing on his clipboard to flash Ellen a reassuring grin.
"Don't worry, he's fine," the doctor said quickly, and she almost cheered with relief.
"What did the X-ray show?" Ellen went to the bed and held Will's hand, which felt oddly cool to the touch. His eyelids looked bluish, and she assumed that was okay, if scary.
"There's no fracture. Children's bones have a lot more give than adults, and it served your son well. The cut behind his ear is all stitched up."
"Thank God. How about his heart?"
"All good." The doctor looked sympathetic. "You've gotta get over that, Mom. He's fine now. Don't worry so much."
I'll get right on that.
"I'd like to admit him and keep an eye on him overnight."
"Sure, better to be on the safe side. I can stay, right?"
"Yes. We'll get him a room and put in a cot for you."
"Great." Ellen looked down at W. "He's sleeping so soundly."
"I gave him a light sedative, and he'll rest until morning."
"Good, thanks." Ellen pulled up a chair. "You know, he saw terrible things tonight, people getting shot right in front of him, and in the next few weeks, there will be a major disruption in his life. Can you give me the name of some counselors that can help him?" Her throat went tight. "With the transition?"
"I'll have the social worker make some recommendations." The doctor moved away, touching her lightly on the shoulder. "Take care."
The nurse left with him, saying, "We'll let you know when we have a room for him."
"Good, thanks." Ellen turned to the other nurse. "Would you tell the man in the waiting room that he's okay?"
"All right, but only as a favor to you. Don't like him, myself." She scuffed off, and Ellen took Will's hand.
His breathing was slightly congested, and his crusty nose bubbled away.
Ellen closed her eyes, to listen better.
The sound of him breathing.
It was the sweetest thing she had ever heard.