I turned. Melissa stood in the doorway of her room, twenty yards away, her hospital gown hanging off one shoulder, her face sheet-white. The two women locked eyes across the distance, and I felt the temperature in the hallway drop ten degrees.

“No,” Courtney whispered, shaking her head. “No, no, no. Cole, when did you meet her?”

“That’s my wife,” I kept my voice level, but my gut tightened. “Courtney, what is it?”

But she was already backing away, her hands trembling. “You need to… God, I can’t. I can’t be the one to…” She spun on her heel and ran. Literally ran, her white sneakers squeaking against the linoleum as she disappeared around the corner.