Page 122 of Lily In The Valley
I laughed, caught off guard. “I guess I am.”
She squinted. “You kinda do. But your ears are bigger.”
Toya covered her mouth to hide a laugh. I walked forward and crouched beside the bed.
“I’m Khalil.”
She nodded. “I’m Kahlia.”
“I heard you draw.”
She grinned. “Wanna see?”
“Absolutely.”
She flipped to the back of her sketchpad and held it up. A colorful drawing of Kelly in her lab coat, curly hair pulled up, stethoscope slung low, smiling, filled the page. The words, “Dr. Kelly Belly,” floated above in big bubble letters.
“She said I could call her that,” Kahlia added proudly.
I laughed. “That’s what her friends call her.”
Kelly stepped in just then with Dr. Sayegh, and her eyes softened the moment she saw the sketch.
“Is this for me?” Kelly asked.
“Yup.” Kahlia nodded and tore it out carefully. “You can have it.”
Kelly took it with both hands, like it was a painting that belonged in a museum.
“I’ll frame it.”
Kahlia beamed.
Kelly stepped forward and shared the final test results. Bronchiectasis confirmed, but mild and manageable. A treatment plan was outlined. Pulmonary therapy sessions scheduled. All hopeful.
“She’s gonna be okay,” Dr. Sayegh said, her hand on LaToya’s shoulder.
“Thank you,” LaToya whispered.
Kelly gave Kahlia a soft pat on the head and turned to me.
“Is it okay if we keep you here a few more days? Just to be sure,” Kelly asked the girl.My sister.
“Yes,” Toya shot. “And thank you so much. For everything.”
“Anytime.” Kelly smiled then left with Dr. Sayegh.
And just like that, it was just me and them.
My mother.
And my sister.
LaToya shifted in her chair; her fingers curled around a Styrofoam cup. “She’s a good kid,” she said softly, watching Kahlia as she flipped to a new page in her sketchbook. I nodded, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the slow rise and fall of her little shoulders. “She got your humor,” she continued. “And your stubbornness.”
“Mama, I am not stubborn,” Kahlia corrected.
“Don’t hold that against her.” I laughed under my breath. “We probably get it from you.”
