talking softly of books and video series and crazy things she’d done with cousins and school friends.

Some number of hours later, the doc finally smiled when he ran Sam’s tests. “Looking good. Looking very good,” he said. “Let’s get you out of that thing.”

Sam was so relieved to be out of the cold, wet mist and chemical smell of the mask that he hardly heard the doctor’s instructions, but he couldn’t miss the notifications for repeated weekly and then monthly treatments as they scrolled across his armband.

“Will all these be covered, too?” Sam asked, remembering his dad’s worry about how much these treatments cost.

The doc shrugged.

Mrs. Jackson bit her lip. “It should be. Will be for sure if you’re wo...

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