“Emily, who is the man outside the window?”
The little girl thought for a moment, then shrugged.
“He’s Uncle Jack.”
“Your uncle?”
Emily shook her head.
“No. Daddy’s friend.”
The nurse leaned closer.
“Your father’s friend?”
Emily nodded and reached under her blanket. She pulled out a folded piece of paper, wrinkled from being handled many times.
“My daddy gave him something before he went away,” Emily said.
The nurse carefully unfolded it.
Inside was a child’s drawing. Two motorcycles. Three stick figures. A little girl holding one of their hands.
At the bottom were three uneven words.
“Take care of her.”
The nurse looked toward the window again.
The biker was still standing there, quietly turning the silver pendant.
Then Emily said something that made the nurse’s chest feel heavy.
“He promised Daddy he would visit me,” the girl said.
“Every day?” the nurse asked softly.
Emily shook her head.
“Only mornings.”
“Why mornings?”
Emily looked toward the window again and whispered.
“Because Daddy used to leave at 8:00 every morning.”
At that moment, the biker outside lowered his head slightly, as if he had somehow heard her.
The nurse stayed beside Emily’s bed for a long time after that.