The room began to spin, the white walls blurring together.

My grip on the twins’ hands loosened as darkness started to pull at the edges of my vision.

“Claire?” Daniel’s voice sounded far away, like he was calling from the end of a long tunnel.

I closed my eyes and let the sleep take me.

***

When I woke up, the sun had set.

The room was dark, except for the pale blue light of the monitors.

The smell of floor wax and rubbing alcohol was strong.

The twins were asleep on the small cot across the room, curled together under a yellow blanket.

Daniel was sitting in the chair next to my bed, his head in his hands.

The silence in the room was absolute.

I moved my leg, and the stiff paper sheet rustled.

Daniel looked up instantly.

His eyes were bloodshot, his tie loosened at his collar.

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice raspy.

“Yes,” I whispered.

He poured some water from a plastic pitcher into a cup.

He held it to my lips, and I drank greedily.