Marcus smiled.
“By five staples.”
The incision looked less frightening without black metal.
Still red.
Still curved.
Still obvious.
Lily asked for mirror.
She looked.
Longer.
Then whispered:
“I still don’t like it.”
Emily said:
“You don’t have to.”
Lily nodded.
Progress.
Discharge came two days later.
Lily should have been happy.
Instead she panicked again.
At hospital, everyone knew why she looked different.
Outside, strangers would not.
She refused to change from pink hoodie.
Fine.
She refused elevator.
Problem.
“I don’t want lobby.”
Marcus was not there.
He had deliberately not come because discharge belonged to family.
Ellen sat.
“How do you want to leave?”
“Back door.”
“That still has people.”
“Ambulance way?”
“Also people.”
Lily cried.
Emily looked overwhelmed.
Ellen asked:
“Do you want to call Marcus?”
Lily nodded.
They video called.
Marcus answered from garage.
Loud engine behind.
“What?”
“I can’t leave.”
He stepped somewhere quieter.
“Why?”
“People.”
“Ah.”
“What if they stare?”
“They might.”
“You always say that.”
“Because lying is rude.”
Lily frowned.
“What do I do?”
Marcus leaned closer to camera.
“Pick what matters more.”
“What?”
“Hood.”
“No hood.”
“Elevator.”
“Stairs.”
“Look down.”
“Look up.”
“You get choices.”
“But one choice you don’t get.”
“What?”
“Living in Room 304 forever.”
Lily smiled despite herself.
Marcus continued:
“You survived three brain surgeries.”
“Do not let lobby beat you.”
The words were dangerous, almost challenge.
But Lily knew him enough now.
“Will you be outside?”
“No.”
Her face fell.
“I’m at work.”
Then Marcus turned camera.
Outside his garage, perhaps fifteen riders stood wearing pink hoodies.
Not at hospital.
He knew crowds could turn Lily into spectacle.
They waved at phone.
Marcus said:
“They’re waiting for proof you escaped.”
Lily laughed.
A huge biker shouted:
“YOU GOT THIS, KID!”
Marcus turned.
“Stop yelling.”
Lily smiled.
Then:
“Okay.”
She took elevator.
Hood up.
Face visible.
At lobby, two people looked.
One child stared at the shaved side of her head.
Lily’s hand rose to hood edge.
Emily waited.
Lily kept walking.