The girl looked uncertain.
Then nodded.
Arthur guided her down the hallway.
Nora remained alone in the waiting room.
She sat.
Opened her purse.
And looked at the brass ring.
For forty-six years, she had kept it because it represented a promise.
Now it seemed to represent something else.
The danger of waiting too long to say what mattered.
Daniel woke fully beneath hospital lights.
His head ached.
His mouth felt dry.
A monitor beeped beside the bed.
For several seconds, he did not understand where he was.
Then he saw Lucy.
She stood in the doorway beside Arthur.
Her face was pale.
Her eyes were swollen.
Daniel's heart twisted.
"Hey, sweetheart."
Lucy ran to the bed.
She stopped just short of throwing herself against him.
The tubes and monitoring equipment frightened her.
Daniel lifted one hand.
"Come here."
She leaned carefully into his embrace.
He wrapped his arm around her.
She began crying.
"Dad."
He kissed her hair.
"I'm here."
"You scared me."
"I know."
She looked up.
"Don't do that again."
Daniel smiled weakly.
"I'll do my best."
Arthur approached.
His old face was tight with emotion.
"How are you feeling, boy?"
Daniel looked toward him.
"Like I lost an argument with the garage floor."
Arthur let out a shaky laugh.
Then placed one hand on Daniel's shoulder.
"Don't make jokes until they tell us what's happening."
Daniel smiled.
"You taught me to make jokes."
"I've taught you better things too."
For several minutes, they talked.
Daniel explained what little he remembered.
Working on the motorcycle.
Feeling dizzy.
The wrench falling.
Nora calling his name.
Then the ring.
He stopped.
Lucy noticed.
"What?"
Daniel stared toward the window.
An image returned.
A thin brass circle.
A crooked scratch.
A girl's hand holding it above an old wooden bridge.
His breathing changed.
Arthur leaned closer.
"Daniel?"
He looked toward the doorway.
"Where's Nora?"
Lucy nodded toward the hallway.
"Waiting."
Daniel closed his eyes.
He remembered her face above him.
The tears.
The words.
You gave it to me on the bridge.
He opened his eyes.
"Arthur."
The old mechanic looked concerned.