“Will they know it’s frozen?”

“They’ll get a standard timeout error,” Claire said. “They’ll think it’s a bad satellite connection.”

“It will keep them trying to log in while the paperwork is processed.”

I looked at the beige walls of the room, feeling a sudden urge to leave.

“Let’s get the facility director,” I said. “We need to sign the discharge papers.”

“I’ll find Mrs. Gable,” Claire said. “I have the emergency medical directive we pulled from the DOD files.”

She headed out into the hallway, her phone already pressed to her ear as she dialed.

I was left alone with my grandmother in the dim room.

The silence was heavy, broken only by the rattle of the old radiator in the corner.

“Rachel,” Margaret said.

“Yes?”

“Is Ethan safe?” she asked.

“He’s deployed,” I said. “But he’s safe. He’ll be home in three months.”

She closed her eyes, letting out a long, shuddering breath.

“He was always a good boy,” she said. “Your father tried to turn him against me, too.”

“Why did he do this to you, Margaret? What was the spark?”