“Easy does it,” Alura tutted to Matilde. 

“Don’t patronize me,” Matilde scorned. Hissing through clenched teeth, she tightened her grip on Alura’s hands as she attempted to rise from her bed for the fourth time. Getting her up and moving on a normal day was a challenge in and of itself, but when she was injured, it was a nightmare. It had taken nearly an hour to get her to a sitting position, full of coaxing and sweetness that was running dry the long...