He stayed outside the room.
“Your husband is asking to come in.”
I looked at the consultant.
Then I said, “Not alone.”
The officer nodded.
“He won’t be.”
My husband entered with his mother behind him.
He looked different now.
Not calmer.
More controlled.
He had lost the confidence he carried in the lobby, but he was still trying to keep the conversation in the place he wanted it.
“The room situation got out of hand,” he said.
I stared at him.
“You dragged me out of my hospital room.”
“I was trying to move you somewhere quieter.”
“You reopened my IV.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“You covered my mouth.”
He looked away.
His mother stepped forward.
“He panicked.”
I looked at her.
“Why?”
She didn’t answer.
My husband did.
“Because everything was happening at once.”
“No,” I said. “You wanted the room.”
His jaw tightened.
“It wasn’t like that.”
