A number of people slept. Others read. She couldn’t do either. She was up and down, glancing at the door when anyone entered. The hands on the clock crawled. Even then she was startled when her name was called. She glanced at the clock. Only an hour had gone by since her mother was wheeled out. Too soon! She went to the door. “The donor kidney showed signs of deterioration,” the surgeon said. “We had to abort the transplant. I’m sorry.” Hope plunged. The optimism that had played in her mind faded. Now Leigh’s help was essential. She had so hoped … On many levels. She waited for her mother to be wheeled out of the operating room. She was sleepy from the sedative. Kira leaned over and kissed her. Katy’s eyes fluttered open. “Is it over?” “The kidney wasn’t good,” she replied. “They didn’t go through with it.” “I thought I would hurt a lot more,” Katy said with a touch of her old humor. “I’m so sorry.” “There wasn’t much time to feel lucky about it,”
