The nurse tells me that I should stay the night, just to make sure there were no complications. There are six beds surrounding me, three on each side of the room, two are full.

I draw the curtain closed and try to make myself comfortable, it’s pointless. I sigh and sit up, beginning an audio book I’ve been meaning to get to.

That’s when I hear a clicking noise slowly approaching me, it sounds like the tap of acrylic nails against the stone cold floor. Then my curtain begins to slide open, “who is it?” I inquire, not quite frightened.

“I just wanted to say hi.”

I see two bright blue eyes staring up at me. A little girl, missing both legs offers something in the palm of her hand. I thank her and take it gently, curious. I observe it closely it looks to be some sort of stone, I place it next to the bed then found myself falling asleep.

I was awoken suddenly when a shrill voice started yelling about

“My rock!” “My rock!”

My curtain is ripped open violently, I sit up, startled, she looks as if she’s about to pounce on me, and ad just as she does a group of four police officers grab her, and drag her out of the room.

That was the last I hear of her and that little girl.

I’m telling the story to my kids as I fiddle with the rock between my fingers.