“If you want to doze off, I’ll wake you when they need you.”
“I might do that,” Amelia said.
The fatigue didn’t always overcome the pain so that she could fall asleep quickly, but that day it did.
But it seemed like just a blink of time before Ben’s voice broke through her sleep.
“Hey, sleeping beauty,” he said. “They need you.”
She blinked her eyes, looking around. Dr. Donner stood a short distance away, watching her with a smile.
“Ready for more?”
She glanced at Ben. “I guess so.”
“We’re going to do some full-body scans to get an idea of what’s going on everywhere.”
“So, like an MRI?”
“Yes, we’ll do an MRI, but also a CT scan. They each show different things and will give us the best overall idea of what might be going on inside your body.”
Ben stood up, then held out his hand to help her to her feet. “I’ll be here when you’re done.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in a bit.”
He gave her hand a squeeze, then let go.
Amelia’s stomach was knotted as she left the room with the doctor. As much as she wanted answers, there was a sudden fear about what they might find.
As they walked, the doctor explained everything they were going to do and encouraged her to ask any questions she might have.
For the next couple of hours, they moved her from one scan to the next. By the time they were all done, it was almost two and a half hours later.
Returning to the room where she’d left Ben, Amelia moved slowly. Even though the scans hadn’t required physical exertion, she had still been exhausted by everything.
The fatigue was settling into her bones, making her movements even more laborious than usual. She spotted Ben as soon as she entered the waiting area. Julian was back, seated across from him, the two of them leaning forward inconversation. Ben looked up immediately when she entered, rising to his feet.
"How'd it go?" he asked, reaching for her elbow to steady her.
"I think I'm done being a science experiment for the day," she said, attempting a smile that she was quite sure didn’t look genuine. "They've looked at every inch of me from the inside out."
Ben guided her back to her chair, his hand warm against her back. "You look exhausted.” He turned to look at Julian. “Are we done here now?”
“Let me go see what Dr. Donner has to say,” Julian said as he got to his feet.
Once he’d disappeared into the office, Ben took Amelia’s hand. “Are you hungry?”
“What time is it?” Amelia asked.
“Almost three.”
“I thought it was later.”
“I’m sure you’re ready to call it a day.”
“I am,” she agreed. “But I’m also very grateful for all of this. I just want a light at the end of the tunnel.”
“Listen,” Ben said. “Even if there’s no light at the end of the tunnel right now, you still have people who are holding the light for you in the darkness. Me, your folks, Layla. We’re all at your side, walking with you, holding a light so you don’t trip. And we’ll keep doing that until thereisa light at the end of the tunnel.”
