Leo stood up and squeezed Sarah's lap...
A nurse with a kind and beautiful face came back into the examination room with a wheelchair and a stack of paperwork...
The decision to admit Sarah had already been made, and the hospital's efficient systems took over... Sarah's quiet murmurs were not considered; she was no longer just a person making choices, but a patient being processed according to procedures that are beneficial to her health...
She looked at Leo, her eyes wide with panic, as the nurse kindly but firmly insisted she sit in the wheelchair. "It's hospital policy for new admissions with chronic illness, dear."
"But, I can walk," Sarah uttered, her voice small.
"I know you can," the nurse said gently. "But we're going to be doing a lot of walking to get you settled, and we need to conserve your energy for the tests."
