That was my first mistake.
A Wedding in a Hospital Room
The next morning, I arranged for another physician to assume responsibility for Alicia’s medical care.
I made the practical arrangements for a small civil ceremony and confirmed that Alicia understood what she was requesting.
She was an adult, she was able to communicate her wishes clearly, and she insisted that this was what she wanted.
Her sister, Nora, helped organize the details.
Nora was twenty-seven, with tired eyes and the guarded expression of someone who had spent too many weeks trying to be strong for another person.
She brought flowers from a nearby shop and helped Alicia choose a white scarf to cover her head.
When I arrived, wearing a dark suit and a tie I had not worn since graduation, Alicia looked me up and down.
“Well,” she said, “you clean up nicely.”
“Thank you. You look beautiful.”
