It was a fitful night of being woken often, though when I finally opened my eyes for real and not in a mumbling state of protest, it wasn't to the nice nurse in the blue scrubs with more medication, but to my dad sitting at my side, holding my hand.
I winced into the early morning light coming through the edges of the blinds, but the longer I looked at him, the more the pain of that illumination faded.
Dad's smile reminded me of the times I'd gotten hurt as a little girl, all sweet and kind of goofy around the edges, like he didn't quite know how to comfort me.
"Thanks for being here," I whispered, voice cracking. "I know Crew probably needs you.
And you didn't get any sleep, did you?"
Dad patted my hand, blinking a few times a bit too fast while his throat worked before he spoke. "Ev
