Wink

Ross remembers another Bad Day. One month after his surgery, his eye needs to heal some more before the doctor puts the markers on his head to guide the radiation beam. Ross calls this “the Dime Slot procedure” (135).

Ross sees a Walking Dead comic while cleaning his room, and the word “dead” sticks in his mind. Dr. Throckton has told him that, with luck, his cancer will not return in another part of his body, which would make it incurable. Throckton doubts the cancer will come back but can’t say for certain. It now fully dawns on Ross that he could die. A sickening feeling overwhelms him, and he falls to his knees, crying out of only his left eye. His inability to cry from both eyes makes him feel worse. He cries for nearly 10 minutes and then lies on the floor, exhausted.

Linda happens to look through the open bedroom door, panics, and runs to help Ross. Once she’s certain he’s mostly well, Linda kisses his head and rests her cheek there. The gesture reminds Ross of his mother doing the same thing. Linda ascertains that Ross is likely dealing with bad thoughts, and he tells her what upset him.