On the day the final verdict was announced, Brandon was sitting inside a movie theater with Chloe and Rosalyn during the doctor’s first planned weekend away from work in months. Halfway through the animated movie, Brandon’s phone vibrated with a message from his attorney confirming the sentence. He read it, briefly closed his eyes, and quietly put the phone away, refusing to allow Brenda’s case to take over their afternoon.
Chloe reached across the armrest carrying an enormous bucket of popcorn. “What are you two whispering about over there?”
“Nothing important at all, sweetheart,” Brandon replied, grabbing a handful of popcorn.
“Good. Then stop talking because I’m trying to watch the astronaut dog,” Chloe instructed firmly.
Rosalyn covered her mouth to hide a laugh, while Brandon glanced toward her with a bright, genuine smile that no longer carried the same fear.
A year later, all three returned to room four at the hospital. The room was receiving routine maintenance, and sheets of protective newspaper covered the windowsill.
