Unlocking the Best Ending
THE NEXT MORNING, SALMA stormed into our room, a desperate look in her eyes. "Get dressed. Your dad is being released in an hour."
Branden and I untangled ourselves from the embrace we'd fallen asleep in and rushed to get ready. Within minutes, we were out the door and power-walking to the hospital. The nurse who'd been feeding Salma information on my dad gave her a subtle nod when we arrived.
As they took a seat in the waiting room, I paced in front of the reception desk. I wanted to calm the hell down and join them, but I couldn't. As I turned to retrace my steps along the front desk, I heard noises behind the entrance that had been forbidden to me. An orderly pushed the door open, then my father glided through on a hospital chair.
Dad looked... smaller, thi
