The consent forms were three pages long.
Leo sat beside his mother's bed with the clipboard on his knee, working through them while the nurse waited.
Treatment acknowledgement. Potential side effects. Every sentence felt heavier than the last.
Hair loss.
Immune suppression.
Fatigue.
Risk of infection.
The words blurred together after a while.
"Mr. Michael?"
Leo blinked.
The nurse pointed gently. "Initial here too."
"Right. Sorry."
He signed it.
His mother watched him the entire time. Not the form. Him.
When the nurses stepped out briefly to prepare transport, she spoke.
"Lila."
Lila looked up from her phone. "Hm?"
"Can you get me the lip balm from my bag?"
"You have lip balm?"
"Women contain mysteries. Go look."
Lila rolled her eyes affectionately and disappeared into the bathroom with the bag.
The second she was gone, the room changed.
Quieter. Heavier.
Their mother looked at Leo.
"Come here."
