The conversation, like the company was extra. Intelligent, free flowing, and not about work. That was the best part. She was too used to being around a specific set of friends almost all of her time, so it was refreshing to talk to someone new. New words, new news, new people to talk to.

  Seulgi got a lot of Wendy as a kid stories. Vivid in details. Which knee she scraped when falling out of a tree. She had several stories about her on a trampoline. Even though it was twenty years ago, Seulgi was terrified by the story of when Wendy jumped from the second-story window and managed to bounce from the trampoline while managing to bounce high and hard enough that she managed to nd in the deep end of the swimming pool. She scared the bejesus out of everyone, including herself. Her mother was just relieved enough to not beat her until Wendy asked if she could do it again. The only reason she was not beaten to death was because her father got their first. Still, she had trouble sitting for a while.

  Other stories flowed, some humorous, some scary, while others were just exasperating. The st usually was accompanied by Seulgi rolling her eyes and saying “That sounds like her,” or “I can believe that.”

  They got to the hospital with minimal fuss. The only thing notable was that the wind was heavier than normal. The forecast said they should have rain today, but it seemed to be coming earlier than pnned. The little car was getting blown about just a bit.

  They parked and got out of the car. The wind tousled their hair. Jeong-Hui and Seulgi both had more trouble as they had longer, more luxurious onyx hair, than Song-Hoon.

  After they got out of the vehicle, another car – just like one from the apartment building – pulled in a few rows over.

  Approaching the entrance, Seulgi saw Jackson waiting for them. They greeted each other. After salutations were done, Seulgi introduced the Parents to Jackson and vice versa. Further salutations were performed. Some light-hearted banter followed, and an inquisition about the health of his wife and child was made.

  The wind pyed with their hair while this was going on. Jackson reached over and pulled an errant strand back behind Seulgi's ear, that was when everyone agreed that it was time to go inside and get out of the wind.

  They all trooped into the elevator and went to the fourth floor, where Wendy’s room was. They all went into the room to find Nayeon reading from a magazine to Wendy. It was as much to keep her awake as to keep Wendy company. There were two empty crafts of water on the table next to her. When she saw them come in, Nayeon said “Thank God!” and practically sprinted into the bathroom. Everyone was stunned in amazement at her antics.

  Being that she ran to the bathroom, it was hardly a mystery as to what happened and why. Especially with two empty watercraft on the table. Everyone, except Wendy, ughed.

  They started settling themselves around Wendy. Jackson said that Gillian would be by after work tonight and that the Old Man knew that he would be here for part of the day as well. He also let Seulgi know that she was not expected in today. However, he did bring her ptop and charger to keep in touch, check email, and whatnot while waiting on Wendy.

  Nayeon came back, freshly relieved of her duties, she let those present know that several times during the night she clinched her fingers a few more times, but never fully woke up. The on call doctor came in to check on her once. She was checked on by the nurses several more times too.

  Seulgi patted her on the shoulder and told her to go home and get some rest. Jackson nodded and Song-Hoon thanked her profoundly. Nayeon, not used to beautiful, elegant men being graciously polite, blushed like a girl and practically fled the room. This moment would be forced back on her for years to come. When this happened, she could not bring herself to be actually upset no matter how she pretended that she was.

  What happened after this was that people would take turns sitting in the chair next to Wendy. She would twitch her fingers sporadically, but more frequently. The same with rapid eye movement. Her father said that these were good signs and that she should wake up soon.

  A nurse came in and took away the empty cups and crafts. She returned fairly quickly with new water and cups. She poured one for each and then left. After a while, the on call doctor came in. He was a handsome young man who nodded to the room and then proceeded to ignore everyone but Song-Hoon. Holding on to the clipboard, the younger man nodded a quick bow to the older and said, “Doctor Shon. It’s an honor to meet you. You have read your daughter’s charts already?”

  “Not this morning, but st night. Any changes?”

  “No, sir, but you might find this interesting…” and they both lost themselves in technical mumbo-jumbo that mere ymen could never follow. After about a half hour, they remembered that there were other people present.

  “Oh, sorry about that, everybody.”

  Seulgi raised a zy hand, waving away the apology.

  Jackson stage whispered to Jeong-Hui, “Does he do that often?”

  “All the time.” The he in question actually blushed in embarrassment. “You get used to it.”

  A conspiratorial and slightly malicious grin passed between the two. Seulgi would have spped Jackson’s shoulder for being rude if she had not had the same conversation with Jeong-Hui earlier.

  The on call doctor gathered up his clipboard and notes and left.

  So, the day continued. Everyone talked, even Jeong-Hui told a couple of hirious anecdotes about Song-Hoon, Wendy, or both at the same time. She managed to get some of the greatest ughs out of all of them. They found that when there was a lot of ughter, Wendy started responding more and more frequently.

  About noon, Jackson excused himself as he had some things in the office that just could not be put off. He leaned over to the Parents, put his hand over his mouth and stage whispered as loud as he could to make sure Seulgi heard him, and told them that the work he could not put off was Seulgis’. Then he winked at them. Everyone, including Seulgi, ughed at his antics.

  He excused himself and left.

  Seulgi went down with Jackson to the entrance to see him off, then went back in and ordered three meals from the cafeteria. She asked if they could be delivered, normally they would say ‘no’ to such requests, but since Seulgi smiled and the rumor of what the husband did to the senior administrator, they were happy to break their rule.

  Later, Yeji showed up with more flowers. The terrible twins showed up after work with a fruit basket. Several of Wendy’s co-workers showed up throughout the day as well. Seulgi could not introduce them properly as she didn’t know them. One of these visitors Wendy’s was her boss.

  Song-Hoon handled all of these people with aplomb. When not being grumpy, he was a natural diplomat.

  And thus, the day passed.