Chapter 37

In the hallway next to the waiting room was the hospital’s chapel. “There,” she said. “I want to go there. Would you come with me?”

I was not prepared for this. I looked at her, and I could clearly see she needed to do this. “But Mademoiselle,” I stammered, “I am Muslim.”

“Does that matter?” she said. “Truly, don’t we all worship the same God?”

Not being devout, I was not in a position to argue. For all I knew, she might be right. But she needed my support at this time. It was the right thing to do.

We entered, took a seat and I stayed beside her as she crossed herself and began her prayers. After about ten minutes, she looked at me, said “thank you” and we went to the waiting room. Roberto was there waiting for us. He raised an eyebrow as we entered, clearly questioning me as to where we had been. “We were in the chapel,” I whispered in Spanish. He nodded. Switching back to French, I told him, “He is in intensive care. No visitors right now.”