Killer Calories

minutes ago. But the conversational gambit had gone nowhere.
    Their little vigil had a somber note about it. Thankfully, somebody you knew didn’t try to kill themselves every day.
    “When are they going to come out and tell us what’s going on?” Tammy asked for the eleventh time. Savannah had been counting... along with the tiles.
    “I’m sure they’ll let us know as soon as they can,” Ryan replied with as much calm and grace as when he had answered her the first, second, and third times.
    “He’s in most capable hands,” John said, giving Ryan 8 compassionate, reassuring look.
    “Yes,” Ryan replied. “Thank you for asking your private physician to look at him.”
    “Any friend of yours deserves the best,” John said.
    Savannah searched John’s eyes for any sign of jealousy or resentment. She was certain Ryan had told him that Dion and he had been lovers. Ryan’s sense of honesty and openness would have demanded as much. But John seemed at ease with the situation, other than his concern for Dion and his sympathy for those who cared about him.
    “I just don’t know why he would do such a thing , ” Tammy said, starting to cry again. “He was so handsome and so nice. And he had so much to live for.”
    Savannah handed her another tissue. Tammy blew noisily into it, then Savannah said, “I think he was afraid.”
    “Of what?”
    Savannah glanced over at Ryan and John, thinking that they might be able to offer Tammy a more insightful answer. But they simply watched and said nothing.
    Savannah took a deep breath and plunged ahead. “Of having those he loves and respects think of him differently than before.”
    “How?”
    “Without love and respect.”
    “Well, I think it’s sad,” Tammy said, sniffing loudly. “I can’t imagine being so afraid and depressed that I wouldn’t even want to live anymore.”
    “Me either.” Savannah patted Tammy’s hand and sent a silent “Thank you” heavenward that the young woman had an indomitable spirit... certainly not someone you had to Worry about becoming suicidal.
    ” I just wish they could give Dion a transfusion of your enthusiasm for life, Tam,” she said.
    ” Wouldn’t that be grand,” John added. “Perhaps there would be enough for us all to have a pint or so. You do seem to have an abundant supply, my dear.”
    The words that had been intended to make Tammy feel better seemed to have the reverse effect. She only cried that much harder.
    Just when Savannah thought she was going to go into hysterics, the door down the hall opened and a white-smocked Hispanic woman hurried out of the emergency ward. After glancing around the waiting room, she strode over to them.
    “Are you Dion Zeller’s family?” she asked with a degree of authority that distinguished her as a doctor, even more clearly than the stethoscope slung around her neck or the “Selena Hernandez, M.D.” on her name tag.
    “Close enough,” Savannah said as they all jumped to their feet and rushed toward her.
    “How is he?” Ryan asked, reaching the doctor first. “He’s in a coma. Unfortunately, he had ingested most of the drugs before he was found, so pumping his stomach had minimal benefits. Fortunately, he had already regurgitated much of what he took.”
    Savannah felt a pang of guilt. If only she had stopped by a few hours earlier....
    “I understand you were the one who found him,” the doctor said to Savannah . Her coffee- colored eyes were searching Savannah ’s as though reading the guilt ledger written there all too plainly.
    “That’s right,” Savannah admitted. “I—”
    “If you hadn’t discovered him when you did,” the doctor said, cutting off her confession, “he would be dead. So, don t waste your time feeling responsible for his condition .“
    “Thank you, Dr. Hernandez.”
    “Will the young man recover fully?” John asked.
    “It’s too early to tell. We’ll know more in a few hours, after his body has processed more of the drugs. And, of course, we’re waiting until he comes out of the coma before we make any definitive diagnosis of the damage he’s done to himself .
    A pager buzzed on the doctor’s hip. She reached for it, peered at the number, and grimaced. “I have to go,” she said. “Is there anything else?”
    “May we see him?” Ryan asked.
    Dr. Hernandez hesitated, studying Ryan’s handsome, worried face. When she finally spoke, Savannah could hear the underlying compassion in her voice. “I’m afraid there