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sure you'll see Dr. Ross. He's the one who did your surgery."
    I nodded nonchalantly, trying to act like I really didn't care which doctor I saw.
    The nurses were in there for a few more minutes before leaving me alone again. They had helped me go to the bathroom, but I barely glanced into the mirror while I was in there. I know I looked and smelled like someone who had been in the hospital for four days, but there was really nothing I could do about it.
    Just after they left, I heard a tap on my door. I looked at it, expecting someone to walk right in the way nurses and doctors did, but it stayed closed.
    "Come in," I called.
    Three of my friends from college walked in tentatively carrying flowers and a giant teddy bear. They all made sad faces when they saw me sitting in the bed.
    "Hey!" I said, smiling.
    "Hey yourself," Rebecca said. "What are you doing almost getting yourself killed?"
    I giggled. "I did my best to stay on my side of the road."
    Emily sat the flowers on the shelf near the window, and Lexie came over to me with the teddy bear.
    "Can I set him by you?" she asked.
    I nodded, and motioned for her to bring him over by my good arm.
    "At least it's not your right hand," she said sitting him next to me. "His name's Alan, by the way," she added.
    "The bear?" I asked.
    "Yep," Rebecca said. "We named him in the car on the way over here."
    I laughed. "Hello, Alan," I said, turning to greet the teddy bear.
    We all sat there and stared at him for a few seconds as if waiting for his response. He said nothing.
    "He's shy at first," Lexie said, leaning over to give me an awkward hug that ended up being more of a pat since she didn't know where it was okay to touch me. I reached up to pat her back.
    "I thought you'd have all of Chicago up in here with you," Emily said, looking around.
    "I've had a few visitors, but my mom kicked everybody out."
    "Where is Annie?" Lexie asked, using my mom's first name.
    "She and Carl went to my apartment to take a much needed shower."
    "Ole' Carl," Lexie said as if comforted by the thought of my father.
    "They should be back in a little bit if you guys want to tell them 'hi' before she makes you leave."
    They laughed.
    "We can't stay," Emily said. "I have to go to work."
    "Speaking of work, I got that promotion," Rebecca said, settling onto the small couch near the window.
    Emily and Lexie sat next to her. It was small enough that they pretty much had to squeeze onto it.
    "Congratulations!" I said. "Manager?"
    "Yep," she said. She threw up some sort of gang sign with her hands. "Old Navy for life, baby," she said, making everyone laugh.
    Two taps sounded on the door before it slowly opened. My friends distracted me, so I'd forgotten Dr. Crawford was coming until I saw him peering in. I watched as he inspected me and my new teddy bear before shifting his focus to my three friends who were sitting on the couch.
    Emily got to her feet instantly. "Should we leave?" she asked.
    He smiled and shook his head. "No, I didn't know Bailey had visitors. I can come back after I see a few other patients." He looked at me. "How are you doing this morning?"
    "I'm good," I said, smiling.
    "Should I request a double bed?" he asked pointing at the bear.
    "Do you have double beds?" I asked with wide eyes.
    "No," he said, smiling.
    I narrowed my eyes. "You had Alan's hopes up."
    He looked at my friends as if making sure they were all girls. "Who's Alan?"
    Rebecca pointed back at the bed, and his gaze shifted to me again. I picked up the bear. "This is Alan," I said.
    He let out a little laugh and shook his head. "You had me jealous for a second."
    He was joking, of course, but the statement sent a flittery, jittery, jolt of pure pleasure washing over me. I let out a laugh and thankfully, so did my friends.
    "I'll let you guys catch up, and I'll come back in a few minutes," he said.
    "It's really okay," Rebecca said. "We weren't planning on staying."
    "Yeah, I've got to go to work," Emily added.
    "We just wanted