Chapter 19 - THE LAST VISIT TO THE HOSPITALTwo years later, Oliver returned to the hospital.
He was healthy.
Strong.
Loud.
And constantly running.
Anna could barely keep up.
Dr. Vell watched him laugh.
“Hard to believe.”
James smiled.
“I know.”
Eli stood beside them.
Oliver ran toward him.
“Eli!”
Eli crouched.
Oliver jumped into his arms.
The boy laughed.
“Careful.”
Oliver grabbed his neck.
Eli froze.
For one moment, the old fear returned.
The mark.
The hospital.
The machines.
The doctors giving up.
Then Oliver laughed.
Eli smiled.
“It's okay.”
Dr. Vell watched them.
“You know,” he said, “I still think about that day.”
“What day?”
“The day you walked into the emergency room.”
Eli smiled.
“I was returning a wallet.”
Dr. Vell laughed.
“Yes.”
“You were all looking at the wrong thing.”
The doctor became quiet.
“That is true.”
Eli looked at Oliver.
“What happened to the doctors?”
“Some retired.”
“Some changed hospitals.”
“And you?”
Dr. Vell looked at the children.
“I stayed.”
“Why?”
“Because there are always things we miss.”
Eli nodded.
Then Oliver pointed at Dr. Vell's neck.
“Look!”
Everyone froze.
Dr. Vell touched his neck.
“What?”
Oliver pointed again.
“There!”
Eli looked.
A small dark mark.
No.
Not a mark.
A piece of lint.
Everyone stared.
Then began laughing.
The tension broke.
But Dr. Vell looked at Eli.
“Good eye.”
May you like
Eli smiled.
“I know.”
