Page 7 of Mercy Written in Blood

Renji closed the door behind him.

"Yes."

Her knees nearly gave way. The sister caught her arm and helped her back into the chair. Renji sat across from them. He alwayssat — bad news delivered from above felt like judgement, and good news delivered while standing could be mistaken for haste.

"He suffered several severe injuries," Renji said. "There was significant bleeding inside his chest, abdomen and pelvis. His heart stopped shortly after he arrived."

The mother covered her mouth.

"We were able to restart it."

"Is he awake?"

"No. He is being transferred to intensive care and will remain sedated. We controlled the most dangerous bleeding, but his condition is still extremely serious."

The sister looked up.

"Is he going to die?"

Renji had been asked the question thousands of times. It never became easier. He could have softened the answer with percentages, favourable signs or cautious optimism, but families often heard certainty where none existed.

"I don't know," he said.

The mother began to cry. Renji let the silence remain.

"We have given him the best chance we can," he continued. "Tonight, his body needs time. The intensive care team will support him while we watch for further bleeding, infection and organ injury. The next twenty-four hours will tell us more."

"Can we see him?"

"Once the nurses have settled him."

The sister swallowed.

"He hates hospitals."

"Most people do."

That earned the faintest, broken laugh from the mother. Renji leaned forward slightly.

"He will have tubes and machines around him. He may look swollen. There will be blood on some of the dressings. I'm telling you now because the first sight can be frightening."

The mother nodded repeatedly.

"Can he hear us?"

"Possibly. Speak to him as though he can."

"What should we say?"

Renji looked at her.

"Anything that reminds him why he should come back."

The mother's face folded. Renji waited until she could breathe again. He explained the injuries once more, more slowly, and answered every question, including those they had already asked. When the intensive care nurse arrived to escort them upstairs, the mother stopped beside him.

"You saved him."

"We helped him."