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Between Care and Control
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2025-03-02 11:00:41Grandfather's room was on the fourth floor. I found him looking frailer than I remembered but alert, irritably dismissing a nurse's attempt to adjust his pillow.
"I'm perfectly capable of arranging my own bedding," he was saying as we entered. His face brightened when he saw me. "Ah, there's my Maya."
I rushed to his side, kissing his papery cheek. "You promised no more health scares." I tried to keep my tone light despite the fear tightening my chest.
"Bah, these doctors are overreacting. A little indigestion and suddenly they want to wire me like a Christmas tree."
The nurse gave me a look that clearly said it was more than indigestion, but she left us to speak privately.
Grandfather noticed Alex and the flowers. "Thorne! S
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