Discharge day arrived with the particular lightness of good news made official.
The paperwork was signed. The final checks were done. Dr. Simon shook Max's hand and held it for a moment longer than a handshake strictly required, the way a man holds the hand of someone he has done something meaningful alongside.
He gave Ruby the follow-up instructions with the thoroughness of someone who could tell she would follow them, all of them, precisely, without exception.
He crouched down and told Nathan that he was one of the bravest patients he had ever had the privilege of operating on, which Nathan received with the solemn dignity of someone being told something they already suspected but appreciated having confirmed.
Ethan, who had also kept every appointment, sat through every monitoring session, and maintained a bedside vigil of remarkable consistency for a three-year-old, waited to see if he would receive a similar commendation.
