She opened her eyes slowly and tried to see through the haze and the pain. It smelled funny here. The surface she lay on…stiff and soft, not the hard-packed ground. A shape came into focus. A face. A dear, familiar face. “Adam?” He leaned closer, his hands on her face, smoothing her hair. “It’s all right. You’re okay. I’m right here, Kirsten, and you’re gonna be just fine.” Blinking, she tried to see him clearly, but she couldn’t. His face swam and danced in front of her. Her bed tilted, and she felt certain she was about to be dumped onto the floor. She reached for Adam, and he was there, gripping her shoulders, his hands strong and solid. The sensation of falling faded. The room around her straightened, and she relaxed. “Don’t let go,” she whispered. “I don’t plan to.” When she opened her eyes again, her vision was clearer. Adam stood beside her, one hand still holding her shoulder, the other gently stroking her hair. Around her, the familiar accoutrements that told her she was in a doctor’s office.
