“Emma, that child is convinced the man in the hospital can hear her,” Mrs. Hayes said one afternoon while they prepared dinner. “She talks about him like they’re best friends.”
“Mom, it’s just a little girl’s imagination,” Emma answered, but a small part of her started paying closer attention.
The following week, Emma secretly watched from the doorway as Lily chatted animatedly with Ryan.
“Uncle Ryan, today my teacher loved my writing assignment. I wrote about a brave man who never gives up, even when everything seems lost,” Lily said, gently holding the patient’s still hand.
That’s when Emma saw it — Ryan’s fingers twitched slightly, almost imperceptibly. But she was sure of what she witnessed.
Emma stepped into the room, trying to stay calm. She checked his vital signs, but the monitors looked normal.
“Mom, Uncle Ryan squeezed my hand today,” Lily said brightly. “He did it yesterday too when I told him about the school field trip.”
“Lily, are you sure?” Emma asked, her heart racing.
“Yes, I’m sure. He always does it when I talk about happy things. I think it makes him glad,” the girl replied, going back to arranging her drawings.