"Predicting is hard because everyone is different," Julian said. "But given that you've grown a quarter of an inch in the first twenty-four hours, you might grow two to three inches taller."
It wasn't as much as she'd hoped for, but it was still significant.
"That's great."
She couldn't wait to tell Ruvon about that.
He would be delighted for her. He didn't mind that she was short. He loved her the way she was. But whatever made her happy made him happy as well, and she loved him so much for that.
"Two to three inches," she repeated, just to say it again.
"I can't promise anything," Julian said. "But your odds are good."
"She wants to be taller," her mother said. "She hates being short even though I keep telling her that she's perfect the way she is."
"I don't hate it. I just want to be taller." Arezoo looked at the physician. "Any other changes that I should expect?"
"I suggest you take pictures," Julian said. "The changes will be gradual, so you might not notice them. It helps to have a reference photo."
She had plenty of photos from the wedding, but she'd had so much makeup on that it would be impossible to tell if anything had changed.
"Maman? Can you take a few close-ups for me?"
Her mother smiled. "We should wait for your sisters to return. They will do a much better job than I can."
Julian pocketed his tape measure and collected his tablet. "I'll come back in a couple of hours to check on you. In the meantime, Hildegard will bring you some broth and tea." He turned to her mother. "Arezoo needs to rest, so try to limit the family visits."
"I'll make sure of that," her mother said, and Arezoo had no doubt that she would guard her rest with all her considerable might.
"Thank you, doctor," Arezoo said.
"You're welcome." He smiled. "It's a bit early, and we haven't conducted the test yet, but I'm going to say this anyway. Welcome to immortality, Arezoo."
"Thank you," she said again.
"It's my pleasure."
He left, pulling the door softly shut behind him.
Arezoo lay still for a moment, but then her mother got to her feet, leaned over the bed, and started the kissing again, but it was slower this time than the rapid attack right after Arezoo's waking.
"My beautiful girl," she said. "My beautiful, beautiful girl."
"Maman."
"My tall, beautiful girl."
"I'm not tall yet."
"You are a quarter of an inch taller than you were yesterday."
Arezoo giggled, and it came out high and delighted, and for a moment she felt six years old again, lying in a different bed, with a different fever, while her mother kissed her better.
Soraya kept kissing her, on the temple, on the eyebrows, on the bridge of her nose, and on her cheeks.
"Maman, stop."
"No."
