Page 17 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

"Then heal."

The room stills. The machines keep humming. Somewhere in the hallway, a food cart rattles past.

Jamie looks at me like I have just said something he does not know how to argue with.

Good.

"You make that sound simple."

"I didn't say it was simple. I said it was your job."

He looks away first, not defeated. Thinking.

The morning settles into a careful rhythm.

Vitals. Breathing exercises. Pain reassessment. Surgical site check.

And a reminder that standing without assistance is not a personality trait.

He argues less than I expect. He watches more.

When Maria comes in from housekeeping to empty the trash, his face changes.

Not dramatically. Just enough.

"Morning, Maria."

She stops so abruptly the trash bag rustles against her leg. "Oh. You remember me?"

"Your grandson's tournament was last weekend, right? How'd he do?"

Maria's whole face brightens. "They won two games. He scored once. His mother cried."

"Good for him. Tell him Captain Walker said nice work."

Maria presses a hand to her chest. "He'll never believe me."

"Make him earn believing you."

She laughs and leaves the room smiling.

I finish updating his medication record, but my attention stays on him.

"How did you know that?"

His gaze shifts to mine. "Know what?"

"Her grandson. The tournament."

He seems genuinely confused by the question. "She told me last night before surgery."

"While you were being prepped for surgery?"

"I could still listen."

The answer is so simple, he does not appear to understand why it affects me.

"You remember everyone's name?"