11. The nurse entered the ICU with a polite yet firm demeanor

The nurse entered the ICU with a polite yet firm demeanor, signaling that visiting hours had ended for the day. "I’m sorry," she said softly, "but we need to prepare for the consultant's round. It’s time to step out."

Ted glanced at Russell, who gave a slight nod, understanding the unspoken cue. Together, they rose from their seats, their chairs scraping lightly against the polished floor. Ted looked one last time at Gramps, his face pale against the tangled backdrop of wires and tubes. It was hard to reconcile this fragile figure with the towering man of stories, the cowboy who had once ruled with an iron will.

The nurse continued, "After the consultant's visit, the male nurses will take over to change his diaper and replace the drapery. We’ll also swap in fresh, clean sheets. Please leave your contact number at the front desk in case we need to call you during the night."

Ted murmured a quiet "thank you" and turned to follow Russell out of the ICU. The hallway outside felt cavernous, its sterile walls reflecting the fluorescent light overhead. The faint smell of disinfectant lingered in the air, sharp and clinical.

Once outside, Russell spoke first. "Guess that’s it for today." His voice was even, but there was a tiredness to it, a weight Ted could sense but couldn’t yet unpack.

Ted nodded, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Yeah. They need their space to do what they need to do." He paused, glancing back toward the ICU doors as if expecting them to swing open and call him back. They didn’t.

The two of them walked in silence toward the exit. Outside, the night had settled in, the air cool and crisp. The stars were faint against the haze of city lights, but they were there, scattered like tiny pinpricks in the sky. Ted tilted his head upward, letting the quiet of the night seep into him.

Russell leaned against a nearby railing, pulling his jacket tighter around him. "So, what now?" he asked.

Ted shrugged. "We wait, I guess. Gramps is in their hands now." He hesitated, then added, "And maybe... maybe we think about what’s next. For him. For us."

Russell nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah. I suppose we do."

They stood there for a while, neither in a rush to leave. The hospital behind them hummed with life, a place where so many were fighting their own battles—some for life, some for peace, and some for answers. Ted and Russell, caught in the middle of it all, found themselves waiting not just for news about Gramps but for clarity about the paths they were each walking.

Finally, Russell pushed off the railing. "Let’s head back," he said. "It’s been a long day."

Ted nodded, falling into step beside him. The road stretched out ahead of them, quiet and uncertain, much like the future. But for now, they walked, each lost in their own thoughts, yet silently grateful for the other’s presence.