On Monday, the worst day of my sickness, Stella did not request anything from me. She did not ask to go outside or to play, she did not ask me to take her for a walk or go to the beach. She knew I was not going anywhere. She only hopped off the bed once in the middle of the day. I listened while she walked into the living room. “Love you,” she said. Stella ran back into the bedroom and returned to my side.
