Jeremiah entered a large circular room. The walls on the outermost perimeter were bare, featureless, and gunmetal gray. In the center of the room, another circle of white curtains concealed a hospital bed and various pieces of medical equipment. On the bed, a small, frail-looking female could be seen through a break in the curtain. Her deep blue eyes looked up at Jeremiah, the only parent she had ever known. The girl was almost eight, but she looked much younger. Doctors were examining equipment and writing on clipboards.

“How is she?” Jeremiah asked one the doctors as he approached.

“She is weak. The dialysis treatments are taking their toll on her.”

“Has Mel been down to see her?” Jeremiah asked.

“She hasn’t been down here in weeks—” The man paused, his brow furrowed in concentration, almost if his next words would be the most profound thing he would ever say. “I hope Melissa can make it . . . before she passes,” the man finally said.

“Thank you, doctor,” Jeremiah said.

The man nodded with a reverent look on his face.

“Any idea what I can do to ease her pain?” Jeremiah asked.

The doctor gave Jeremiah a thoughtful look and chose his next words carefully. “April has several diseases. The primary, beta thalassemia major, is treatable with regular blood transfusions. If that were all she had, I would say she could live a happy—albeit complicated—life with treatment. But . . .” The doctor trailed off.

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“I’m afraid the late diagnosis of the disease has caused significant bone marrow damage,” he continued. “If we’d caught it early enough, a bone marrow transplant might have been enough.”

“You said ‘several diseases.’ What other ailments does she have?”

The doctor looked nervous, and he didn’t look Jeremiah in the eye. He looked down as he chose his next words.

“April has also developed aquagenic urticaria, a rare allergic reaction caused by exposure to water,” the doctor said.

“She’s allergic to water?”

“There is little in the scientific community about this disease, but there are some theories. The water itself may be a catalyst for other toxic allergens. April has developed the disease earlier than most reported cases. Typically, the disease manifests around puberty. She’s still some years from that,” the doctor said.

Jeremiah looked down and was silent for a long time. The doctor fidgeted a little, uncomfortable with the silence.

“Are there any experimental options?”

“Such as?”

“I don’t know. You’re the damn doctor!” Jeremiah said in a hostile tone.

“Sir, I understand this is difficult. She is ill. However, I have a colleague that might be able to help, although her treatments are controversial and very expensive.”

“Whatever it takes. Set up a meeting with this colleague . . .” Jeremiah abruptly trailed off.

The doctor nodded in agreement. Jeremiah couldn’t utter another word. It was like someone grabbed his throat and wouldn’t let go. He left the chamber. It surprised him to discover that he was weeping. What’s wrong with me?

The girl he knew loved life and everything in it—especially animals. Seeing her like this was beyond troubling; it was downright heartbreaking. Lost in thought, Jeremiah barely noticed one of his men coming toward him.