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Like anyone, she definitely didn't enjoy giving a family bad news about a patient. But no matter how hard she tried, she was never able to get good at these moments—the parts where there was nothing to do but be there for another human experiencing loss. It just wasn't in her DNA.
Even so, she felt the need to say something to Maddie, something that would bring her some ounce of comfort. Butwhat was there to say? There weren't any words in the world that fit moments like these. She knew that firsthand.
***
Saff spent the better part of two hours organizing the medical supplies she'd used over the last few days. It needed to be done, but if she were being honest, she was really doing it to give Maddie and her family some space.
She made her way to one of the other patient beds, where an older man waited.
He'd been at the wall when the raid began, and he'd been hit over the head with what she assumed was the blunt end of a gun.
For the second time, she checked over the minor cut and bump that it had left. She'd already told him hours before that he could leave if he wanted to, that he didn't need any more medical help. But for some reason, he’d chosen to stay. Perhaps he was afraid to leave—too scared of another raid. And if he was, she couldn't blame him.
As she gently probed the injury on his head, the front door opened.
She paused, glancing up as a very somber-looking Sylvia plodded past the threshold.
She somehow looked years older than she had the day before. The lines on her face had deepened, and even the few gray roots in her hair seemed to be more prevalent.
Her dull eyes scanned across the room, stopping when they met Saff's.
She could have sworn a flicker of relief went across the woman's face the moment they met eyes. But before she could dwell on it, the look was gone. She gave her a small nod, then looked to Maddie.
"Maddie, what happened?" she asked with more genuine concern than Saff thought she was capable of giving.
Saff stepped forward, making her way to Maddie's bed.
She seemed to still be slightly dazed from the news about Carter, but she cleared her throat and answered quietly, "I was burned in one of the house fires."
Sylvia frowned, then glanced up at Saff with a silent question on her face.
"It'll heal," Saff answered.
Sylvia nodded slightly, then turned to Josh. "They told me what happened to Carter." A dark look passed over Josh's face, and he dropped his head, staring down at the ground. "I'm sorry for your loss," she cleared her throat, glancing between each member of the family. "For all of your loss."
Erin gave her a small nod, but everyone else remained silent.
After a few moments, Sylvia turned back to Saff. "Did you have everything you needed to take care of the ones who came here?"
Saff nodded. "They all had surface wounds."
Sylvia glanced at the older man lying in the bed towards the back. She watched him for a moment before her eyes returned to Saff. "When you go, you can take the medication you need."
Saff stared back at her for a moment before nodding once.
Sylvia looked like she wanted to say something more, but instead shook her head slightly and started walking for the front door.
"Sylvia," James said, pushing himself away from the wall he had been leaning against. "What's the plan now? What are you going to do?"
Sylvia paused, turning to him and inhaling deeply through her nostrils. She waited a beat, thinking before answering.
"We will rebuild. We'll build the wall back stronger than before." She swallowed, her eyes flicking down to the floor. "We can keep them from getting in again. We have to."
The look on her face said that she was trying to convince herself just as much as anyone else.
James gave her a small nod, then she walked out the front door, leaving them all in silence once again.
After a few moments, James looked up. "Maddie, how's your arm feeling?"
