Numbing

Rian's mother's mother is in the hospital again, this time with a kidney infection and swollen liver.

The doctor has - again - claimed she has mere days to live.

Rian's uncle was - again - weeping on the telephone.

As this is the third or fourth time the doctor has told us to prepare for the worst, Rian is beginning to think of him as The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Or the Very Pessimistic Doctor.

This, of course, makes Rian feel gently guilty.