Chapter 11 - The Discharge Papers
Two weeks after the night of sirens and terror, the chief physician signed the discharge paperwork.
Room 412 was packed. Elena folded the blankets they had brought from home, while Marcus secured Toby into a pediatric wheelchair. The boy was dressed in his favorite green dinosaur hoodie, his cast covered in colorful marker drawings from the nursing staff.
Nurse Sarah knelt down to give Toby a high-five. "You take care of that leg, young man. No jumping off sofas for two months."
"I won't," Toby promised. "My dad and I are going to build Lego towers instead."
Marcus smiled, shaking Sarah’s hand. "Thank you for saving him."
"You helped save him too, Dad," Sarah replied with a knowing smile. "Children heal faster when they know they're anchored."
As they wheeled Toby out through the sliding glass doors into the warm morning air, Toby shielded his eyes against the bright sun. Marcus picked him up carefully from the chair and placed him into the backseat of their SUV, securing the specialized safety harness around his cast.
Before closing the door, Marcus leaned in. "Ready to go home, buddy?"
May you like
Toby looked around at the bustling street, then looked up at Marcus. There was no hesitation in his eyes anymore.
"Ready," Toby said happily.
