Leonard fumbled for his phone—hands shaking, already dialing for an ambulance—but Naomi grabbed his arm.

"Don't!"

"She goes to the hospital, they'll hook her up to an IV. The second they pump medication into her, the surgery the day after tomorrow is finished!"

Leonard stood there, not moving. "Then what do I do? I can't just stand here and watch her burn up!"

Naomi took a deep breath. "Put her in the bathtub. A night of soaking and the fever will break."

I fought to stay conscious, my fingers twisting into his shirt.

"Leonard... take me... to the hospital..."

"Please… take me…"

"To the hospital…"

Naomi shook her head at him. "No."

Leonard glanced at Naomi, clenched his jaw, and said, "Fine. Go run the bath."

Whatever hope I'd still been holding onto died right there.

For the sake of Naomi's surgery, my life wasn't worth a second thought to Leonard.

By some mercy, the fever broke the next morning.

Leonard made congee for breakfast—brought it to me himself, looking almost guilty.

"Connie, I made this just for you."

"Naomi says keep it bland today. Surgery's tomorrow."

I looked at it, then dropped the bowl into the trash.

I didn't say a single word to Leonard for the rest of the day.

It wasn't until I got up in the middle of the night for water that his voice drifted through the crack in the bedroom door.

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

"Once she's done with the surgery, I'll bring up the breakup. Definitely."

"Isn't that the whole point right now? I'm just keeping her happy so you can get your surgery. All right? Come on, stop being mad…"

I wasn't surprised. Actually, something in my chest loosened.

I sat in the living room for the rest of the night.

When Leonard found me there at dawn, he took a startled step back.

"Why are you up so early?"

I stood. "Waiting for you two. Let's go to the hospital for the surgery."

"Didn't you say we'd get our marriage license once it's done?"

"Leonard, I've thought it through."

The surprise on his face gave way to relief he didn't even try to hide. Last night he'd been worried I'd make a scene at the hospital and wreck the whole procedure. Now everything was going exactly his way.

Leonard drove me and Naomi to the hospital.

Naomi went off to handle pre-op prep. Leonard stationed himself outside my room.

"I'm going to go change," I told him.

He didn't follow. Why would he? I was cooperating.