LOST

You may leave.”

Jasmine glances at me standing in the open doorway. She hesitates, perhaps wondering if it’s all right for me to be there, then quietly steps out of the room.

The bed looks large and imposing, engulfing my father’s frail body. The machines by the bed hum softly, and their beeping is the only indication that he’s still alive. I move closer to get a better view, my stomach tying in knots as I stare at him hidden beneath heavy blankets despite the summer heat. My throat tightens, waiting for any sign of life, when his eyes suddenly flutter open.

I catch my breath.

Finally, I’m allowed to speak with my dad alone, and the sight of him ravaged by chemo twists my heart. I know Alfredo is doing the right thing by providing treatment, but I can also tell that my father is in pain.

I sit in an armchair close to the bed, resting my hands on my lap. “Dad, are you awake?”

He starts to cough, and I stand immediately, rubbing his back until the coughing fit is over.

“Raise the bed,”