Blood pressure.
Anti-inflammatory medications.
Supplements.
Everything documented.
Everything scheduled.
Hannah created a chart.
Nicholas mocked it.
Then followed it.
His cognition improved.
Morning confusion decreased.
Physical therapy sessions became more productive.
He began attending business meetings again.
Then, unexpectedly, the progress reversed.
First came fatigue.
Nicholas fell asleep during an afternoon legal meeting.
Unheard of.
His attorney thought he was sick.
Hannah checked him.
Vitals strange but not immediately alarming.
Next came the confusion.
One night at 2:13 a.m., Hannah heard movement through the monitor.
She found Nicholas sitting upright in bed.
Sweating.
Eyes unfocused.
He looked directly at her.
“Rebecca?”
Hannah froze.
“I’m Hannah.”
Nicholas blinked.
“Where’s Rebecca?”
“I don't know who Rebecca is.”
His breathing accelerated.
Hannah moved closer.
“Nicholas.”
He stared.
Recognition slowly returned.
He looked ashamed.
“My sister.”
Hannah knew Nicholas had no living sister.
Rebecca Valenti had died at sixteen.
Thirty years earlier.
He remembered that himself several minutes later.
“What happened?”
Hannah checked his pupils.
Pulse.
Blood pressure.
Medication record.
Everything appeared correct.
Nicholas whispered:
“I saw her.”
“Dream?”
“No.”
He looked toward the doorway.
“She was standing there.”
Hannah said nothing.
She stayed until he slept.
The next morning, Claire dismissed it.
“Medication.”
Hannah looked at her.
“Which one?”
Claire shrugged.
“All of them.”
Hannah’s eyes narrowed.
“That isn't medically useful.”
Claire laughed.
“You want medically useful?”
“Yes.”
“Ask the expensive doctors.”
“I did.”
“And?”
“They want labs.”
Claire sighed dramatically.
“Every time he feels strange, somebody orders another test.”
Nicholas sat nearby.
Claire touched his shoulder.
“My poor darling.”
The gesture looked affectionate.
Nicholas felt nothing from it.
That bothered him.
The next week was worse.
He became nauseated after dinner three nights in a row.
His hands trembled.
He struggled to focus during meetings.
Claire began canceling appointments for him.
Without asking.
Nicholas discovered that when Walter entered the library one afternoon.
“Why did you cancel Marino?”
Nicholas frowned.
“I didn't.”
Walter stopped.
“Claire said you weren't well enough.”
Nicholas looked toward Hannah.
She looked equally surprised.
“Call him back.”
Walter nodded.
That evening Nicholas confronted Claire.
“Stop canceling my meetings.”
“You were exhausted.”
“I decide.”
“You fell asleep during one.”
“I decide.”
Claire folded her arms.
“You don't know how you look lately.”
Nicholas stared.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you're not yourself.”
His expression changed.
Claire softened immediately.
“I’m worried.”
She touched his cheek.
Nicholas turned away.
“I have Hannah for medical decisions.”
Claire’s smile vanished.
“Hannah.”
He looked at her.
“You say her name like she's family now.”
“She does her job.”
“So do I.”
“What is your job?”
The question slipped out before Nicholas could stop it.
Claire stared.