It’s nice to wake up on my own, not to be woken up by a thermometer being jammed down my throat or a cuff tightening around my arm. It’s light in the room. My phone tells me it’s 9:37. I hear Joey come in, and he’s talking to Flora about basketball again. Well, more like talking at Flora. He’s telling her about some game he went to and some amazing free throw. I almost feel bad that Flora has to listen to him. Almost.

I look at my texts, trying to tune out Joey’s voice. Kelsey sent a message a little while ago, still talking about one of the two movies she watched, and then, Hope u feel ok!

I feel better than okay reading it. Just great, I reply.

I open my email but don’t find anything interesting. I don’t feel like looking at my Facebook to see anyone else I know say they don’t know me, so I look at Kelsey’s Facebook, then her Instagram. Just some selfies of her and Lucy watching their movies.

My mom calls to tell me she’s on her flight. There are all kinds of announcements in the background, and she’s talking really loud. I pull the phone away from my face a bit, tell her I’m fine, no fever yet, yes, I’m eating well, and then Joey opens the curtain. For once, I’m actually happy to see him. “Mom, I need to go. One of the doctors is here.”

“Okay. But really quick—I wanted to let you know I’ve spoken with the doctors about visitors. I’ll have a definite answer one way or another by tomorrow. They seem confident it’ll be okay, and I’ll be able to see you soon! And I’ll be in Miami in a few hours!”

“Mom, I really gotta go. Have a good flight.” Joey is watching me on the phone, scrawling away at his clipboard like usual.

I hang up and he says, “You heard the rumor about visitors? No girlfriends, though, Romeo. We can’t have you kissing anyone.”

I hear Flora snort on the other side of the curtain. Joey hears it too, then tries and fails to hide a grin behind his hand.

“Breakfast,” he says, sliding me the tray. He checks my vitals, writes some more on the clipboard, then exits through the antechamber. Funny how quick his “checks” are with me versus Flora, I think, annoyed. And why did she snort like that?

It’s only 10:16 a.m. This is going to be a long day.