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Her parents returned shortly after Nurse April arrived to replace the sensors, warning Lydia again that she needed to stay in bed and not touch them. When April checked the EKG monitor, she regarded the damaged pole, showing greater shock than she had when Lydia had awoken. She wrapped her own fingers around the cylinder, muttering to herself about how anyone could’ve missed the damage when the EKG had been brought in. Lydia avoided eye contact with her but could sense April’s glances every now and again as she studied the metal pole.

  The nurse stopped marveling at it when Lydia’s parents rushed in to hug and kiss their daughter. April left the family alone, telling them she needed to attend to other duties and would have a replacement EKG brought in.

  The three of them spent the next few hours waiting for Dr. Brown and catching Lydia up on all that had happened, as nurses and CNAs ran in and out, replacing the EKG, checking her vitals, and bringing food. Her father said that he and Lydia’s mother were even less informed about what had happened than Lydia was. “All they told us was that you were in an accident and brought here,” he said. “So we rushed here as quickly as we could.” He was dressed in his emerald jumper with the large white logo of PENNER’S LAWN SERVICE stitched on the back. A patch with a smaller version was sewn on the jumper’s front, with the name Arnold underneath.

  Her parents never asked about how her legs or arms were feeling, but Lydia did her best to keep her whole body under the sheets. She was relieved to understand that they didn’t yet know what Dariela and she had been up to. It was sure to come out soon. Defenseless in a hospital with security and orderlies nearby, she considered the advantages of telling her parents versus telling them at home, where all she could do was hide.

  Dr. Brown walked into the room. He was the family’s doctor and Lydia had been his patient for as long as she could remember. She loved visiting him, since he was usually overcautious about sickness, which meant she usually stayed out of school when she saw him. He was well-built and tan, and tall enough to rival Lydia’s father. He strode into the room, a thick manila folder under his arm. A warm smile graced his handsome face. He took a seat on the opposite side of the bed from where her parents sat.

  “How are you feeling, Lydia?” he asked.

  Like a freak of nature, Lydia thought, eyeing the new EKG. “Fine,” she said.

  “Good,” he said, nodding and opening the folder. “Well, I won’t keep you in the dark. According to the tests we ran, there don’t appear to be any problems. Except,” he thumbed through some papers, each turn raising Lydia’s anxiety further.

  “Except?” her mother prodded.

  “Except an abnormally large increase in muscle growth since her last visit at the office. Been working out recently, Lydia?”

  “Not much,” Lydia said.

  “Well, it might be best if we keep you here for a few days, just to be sure. We’ll run some tests and make sure everything checks out. Could be a side effect of what you were exposed to.”

  “Something bad?” Lydia asked.

  “I don’t think so. We’ll know more in a few days.” He closed the folder and folded his hands. “As for the rest, you’re completely healthy. There appears to be no trace of whatever your skin absorbed, no toxicity, or anything at all.”

  “What was the stuff she got on her?” Arnold asked. Lydia’s mother gripped her daughter’s hand, squeezing it gently and smiling at her.

  “According to Rooke, it was some drugs they were testing for stalling muscle atrophy. From what we’ve seen, Lydia’s muscles have grown as a result of exposure to the drugs.”

  “Wait,” Lydia said, trying to sit up straighter. “ ‘Drugs’? As in plural?”

  “Yes,” Dr. Brown said, nodding. “On their own, they may not have had an effect on you. Together, we don’t know. These drugs are supposed to be accepted by the FDA any day now, so I can’t understand how they may harm you. I’m guessing that the biggest change you’ll see is that you’ll look and be stronger than you were.” He smiled reassuringly. “But like I said, to be on the safe side and to ease everyone’s mind, we’ll keep you here for a few days to monitor you. Your rapid muscle growth may only be temporary and last for a day or two.”

  Lydia was immensely relieved. She leaned back, accepting hugs from both her parents as Dr. Brown left the room. Yet, a tiny doubt rang in her mind, reminding her of the damaged EKG pole. She hoped the drugs’ effects were only temporary. But how long is “temporary”?

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