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coming?” Pete asked me, cranking his head to look at me as he walked through the front door.
    I shook my head, blinking back tears. I was desperate to stay with Nate, but my two o’clock meeting was with Jack, and I couldn’t miss it.
    Instead, I was forced to wave a final time before returning to the cab. I gave the driver my work address. As he pulled away, I bitterly yanked out my iPhone and returned to the chaos of my workday, firing off answers to the challenges in my inbox.

9
    Nate
    I’m going to the hospital. Dad said I have to get my head looked at by some doctor.
    I don’t want to get my head checked. I want to play video games with Noah but Dad said no way, boss .
    We walk in and see doctors. Lots and lots of doctors. And nurses.
    Dad tells me to keep the ice on my head. I sit on the blue chair with lots of other people. Dad talks to a nurse. I wait.
    I take off my jacket because I feel hot. Even with the ice on my head. I feel dizzy. I might fall over and hurt my head like I did before. Then Mom will be upset again.
    My chest hurts. It goes up and down. Really fast. It won’t stop. It’s weird. I do not like it. I’m scared.
    I can’t breathe.
    Everything hurts.
    â€œHey little guy … are you okay?” a woman wearing purple asks me. She is sitting too close to me. I tell her to go away.
    She stops talking to me. For one minute. Then she comes closer and asks where my mom is. Her breath stinks. Like cat pee and coffee all mixed up. I want her to go away. I yell at her to go away.
    â€œIs everything okay here?” my dad asks. He isn’t talking to the nurse anymore. He puts his arm around me. “Are you okay, Nate?”
    My arms twitch. Dad hugs harder.
    â€œIs this your son?” the woman asks. “He doesn’t seem okay. He was breathing really quickly and he won’t stop shaking.”
    â€œNate? Are you okay? You’re sweating … are you hot?” He sits on the chair next to me.
    I can’t breathe. I’m scared. I might be choking. My chest hurts.
    I hate it here.
    I have to go outside.
    I run for the door. Fast. Faster. Like my gym teacher tells me to do.
    â€œNate? Nate!” I hear Dad yelling behind me. He is following me.
    I need air. I can’t breathe.
    I slam into the door. But I’m not fast enough. Dad grabs me. He picks me up. He is holding me too tight. My arms feel all tingly. It’s weird.
    I’m so scared.
    â€œNo, no, no …” I scream. I need to get away. I punch Daddy. I don’t want to. I love Daddy. But I punch him. I need to go outside. “No Daddy … no, no, nooo! Leave me alooone !”
    My dad holds tighter. I kick hard. As hard as I can. Daddy calls for help. He yells so loud it hurts my ears.
    Two doctors rush over. “What’s going on here?” one asks.
    â€œI don’t know,” Daddy answers. “I’ve never seen him like this before.”
    I’m more scared now that the doctors are asking questions. I need to get out of here. I bite Daddy. Hard. He drops me.
    â€œCode white!” I hear one of the doctors yell loudly as I try to break away from my daddy. I don’t know what a code white is.
    Two policemen find me. They grab me. They carry me to the back. They put me on a bed and hold me down. I don’t know where my daddy is. I’m so scared. I’m going to die.
    â€œ Get awaaay from meee ! Where’s my daaaddy?”
    â€œRight here, Nate. I’m here, buddy.” I hear my dad’s voice but I can’t see him. I feel a squeeze on my shoulder. I think it’s him. But maybe it’s the policeman.
    A new doctor comes in. He shuts the curtain and sits beside me on the bed.
    â€œNate? Is that your name?” The doctor sits very close to me. “Listen to me, Nate. You are going to be okay.”
    â€œI … I … c-c-c-can’t … breathe.”
    â€œWe know you’re breathing because