Luc\u00eda took a deep breath. She remembered the twelve-hour trip. She remembered the locked door.
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\u201cI understand,\u201d she said simply. And she left, making the journey home in absolute silence.<\/p>\n
Three days later, Luc\u00eda was in her kitchen, watching the rain fall, when the landline rang. It was the hospital number.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Luc\u00eda Fern\u00e1ndez?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re calling from the billing department at Central Hospital,\u201d an administrative, somewhat hurried voice asked. \u201cYou\u2019re listed as the emergency contact and financial guarantor on your son\u2019s medical record. Look, the insurance covered part of it, but there were minor complications and private room expenses that the insurance doesn\u2019t cover. The delivery bill has an outstanding balance of $10,000. We need to process the payment today to complete the administrative discharge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luc\u00eda took a deep breath. She remembered the twelve-hour trip. She remembered the locked door.
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