Saylor nodded. “Why?”
“He was asking for her when they brought him in.”
“The people who were with us in the waiting area might be able to track her down.”
She watched as her mother brushed her fingers over Razor’s forehead.
“He’s going to be okay,” Saylor repeated after the nurse left. “Keep praying.”
“I know he is,” her mother responded. “He just needs to hear Ava’s voice.”
“THE DOCTOR WOULD LIKE to talk with you both,” said the nurse when she came back in. Saylor had no idea how much time had passed while she and her mom sat staring at her brother.
“Come on, Mom,” she said, helping her up.
The nurse led them down the hallway into another room. “He’ll be right in,” she told them, closing the door behind her.
A few minutes later, they heard a soft knock on the door, and a man they hadn’t met before walked in.
“I’m Dr. Mason,” he said, shaking both of their hands.
“Do you know if anyone was able to find Ava?” her mother asked him.
“Ava?”
“The nurse told us my brother was asking for her when they brought him in,” Saylor explained. “My mother thinks it would do him good to hear her voice.”
“Yes, I believe she’s with him now, in fact.”
“Good,” her mother murmured.
“I’m here to discuss your son’s condition, and talk to you about removing—”
Saylor stood.
“Where are you going?” her mother asked.
“Ava should be here too,” she said, rushing out of the room.
Maybe Ava shouldn’t really be there, but Saylor had to get out of that room before the doctor said something she wasn’t ready to hear.
When she got to Razor’s room, the door was slightly ajar and Saylor could hear Ava talking to him.
“I love you so much. I have since the first time I saw you. And you love me too—Saylor told me you did—so you can’t leave me.”
When Ava broke down and sobbed, Saylor eased the door open and rested her hand on her back.
“I’m so sorry,” Ava cried, jumping up and hugging her.
“Shh,” Saylor soothed. “Come with me. There’s someone I want you to talk to.”
Ava turned to look at Razor.
“We’ll come back,” Saylor whispered, taking Ava’s hand and leading her to the room where Dr. Mason and her mother sat talking.
“Is this Avarie?” asked the doctor when she and Saylor walked in.
She nodded.