^Whoooa!^ Mimi tucked her little legs in and rolled across the back seat with the turn. ^That’s fun, do it again!^

  “That was the last one, we’re here.” Ever rested both hands on the steering wheel of Zoe’s car, craning his neck to find a car space in the visitor’s car park.

  ^Awww.^ As disappointed as the sausage dog was, she kept quiet to let her human concentrate on parking. She started wagging her tail when he finished backing into the space and turned off the car.

  It was only the second time that he had successfully reverse parked but he didn’t feel like celebrating. As good a girl as Mimi was, Ever didn’t think that she could appreciate the feat.

  “Come on,” Ever said, getting out then opening the back-right door. “Time to visit Zoe.” He scooped the long dog up, juggling her in one arm while closing the door with the other. He side-stepped out, before finding the zebra crossing, heading into the ER.

  As the automatic doors shut behind them, Mimi became tense. ^Wait, this feels a bit like the vet clinic.^

  “It’s a vet clinic for people,” Ever explained.

  ^Oh no, is Zoe OK?^ Ever’s stomach lurched at the question while he stayed quiet. He hurried past the Emergency Department desk, going straight to the main reception where he mentioned he was a visitor for someone in palliative care. The nurse behind the desk gave him a sympathetic look, smiling at Mimi before signing the both of them in.

  ^What does ‘palliative care’ mean?^ Mimi asked.

  Ever carried Mimi into the lift and pressed the button for Zoe’s floor. There were a couple other people - a doctor and a patient - in the lift, but he didn’t care.

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  “‘Palliative care’ means that Zoe’s going to need special attention for the next few months.” The thought did cross his mind that his own time on Earth - the so-called vacation as Death called it - would be coming to an end soon. He didn’t want to dwell on whose time would run out first.

  The lift opened and he walked out, letting his legs guide him down the now familiar path to Zoe’s room.

  ^‘Special attention’?^ Mimi barked inquisitively, drawing the attention of kids pointing at the dog as they walked past. ^You’re hiding something.^

  Ever juggled his dog again, knocking the door to Zoe’s room. Hearing the muffled, ‘come in’, he entered.

  Seeing Zoe’s face, he lit up. She looked a lot better than the day that Carol and Jin visited and she threw up. There was a doctor Ever hadn’t seen before: a slightly older woman, wearing pink scrubs.

  Mimi squirmed in Ever’s arms, ecstatic.

  ^Zoe!^ Mimi barked, her tail a blur as it flicked Ever in the face. She jumped out of Ever’s arms onto the bed, scampering up to lick her in the face.

  “So this is the boyfriend and his dog I’ve been hearing so much about,” the new doctor said. Her ID tag said, “Dr. Ramirez”.

  “Hello, I’m Ever and this is Mimi.”

  “So I’ve heard.”

  “You’re replacing Dr. Yang?” Ever asked.

  “Not quite,” Dr Ramirez said. She glanced at Zoe. “Can I tell him?”

  Zoe smiled mischievously and nodded.

  “I’m from the obstetrics department: Zoe is pregnant.”

  Mimi stopped panting. ^So that’s what the ‘palliative care’ is for. You’re having puppies!^

  —-

  Nyx probed through her mantle of night, unable to resist a giggle at her adopted son’s shocked face. She then became somber as she turned her attention to Zoe.

  It’s time; she’s ready.