Lily didn’t care. She had created her own special routine. She sat beside Ryan and told him about her day at school, her friends, and her games. Sometimes she brought colorful drawings and taped them to the wall near his bed. Other times she read children’s books out loud, as if he could follow every word.
The hospital staff tolerated the little girl’s presence because she never interfered with medical procedures. Dr. Michael Harlan, the neurologist in charge, even found her dedication touching, though scientifically he knew it made no difference.
“It’s sweet to see how much she cares,” he once told Emma.
“I know, Doctor,” Emma replied, “but I don’t have the heart to take away her hope. Lily lost her father three years ago, and this connection with Mr. Caldwell… it’s like he’s become a grandfather figure to her.”
Emma worked double shifts to support her daughter alone. Her mother, Mrs. Eleanor Hayes, a 67-year-old widow, helped watch Lily when Emma couldn’t be there. It was Mrs. Hayes who first noticed something unusual.