There was the email Jenna had sent to Mallory’s emergency contacts before she even left the copier area.
The subject line was blunt and urgent.
MALLORY HOSPITALIZED — URGENT.
Jenna had sent it to all three of them.
Mallory’s mother.
Mallory’s father.
Mallory’s sister.
No one came.
Ethan slept in that awful chair until his back seized so badly Carla made him walk the hallway.
Jenna brought socks, dry shampoo, a soft hairbrush, and books Mallory was too tired to open.
Carla learned that Mallory wanted extra ice in her water and hated orange Jell-O.
Every small act landed harder than it should have because Mallory was finally seeing the difference between love and access.
Love stayed.
Access demanded.
When Mallory was discharged weeks later, she was not fully herself.
Her legs shook after short walks.
Her hands tired easily.
Her body kept reminding her that surviving something did not mean it had left cleanly.
