The Order of the Trees by Katy Farber

filled his eyes. The doctor shifted his weight off Phillip’s hand and looked down just as Phillip pulled it under the bed.
    Cedar jumped in, “Oh, Dr. Jones, I think it’s from all the great care I’ve been getting here.” He looked up at her and smiled.
    â€œDon’t worry, Cedar, we’ll find out what’s bothering you, we will. You just rest and keeping thinking positively, okay?” He winked at her and left.
    Phillip moaned from under the bed.
    â€œAre you okay? What happened?”
    Phillip rolled out from under the bed, clutching the red tip of his index finger tightly to his chest.
    â€œYeah, I’m fine,” he said through clenched teeth.
    â€œThat was close.”
    He took a couple of deep breaths and looked at his watch. 10:37. Less than an hour and a half before they needed to meet Jimmy in front of the hospital. Phillip shook his hand out and rubbed his finger. No time to worry about it. Then he took out his laptop and opened the file labeled “hospital floor plan.”
    â€œCedar, we need to go over this in detail in case we get separated on the way out.”
    Phillip packed up his laptop and gathered his things. The clock read 11:37.
    â€œOkay, Cedar, are you ready?” He looked up at her and saw her staring at the plastic tube coming from her wrist. The tube led to a needle stuck into her arm. She shook her head.
    â€œWhat do I do about this?” she said.
    â€œWhy didn’t you think of this before!” He wished he could take the words back as soon as he said them.
    She stared at him silently, hurt.
    â€œI’m sorry. I just thought we’d worked everything out.”
    Tears pushed into Cedar’s eyes. “I don’t know if I can do this. What if I don’t make it?”
    Phillip slid his hand into hers. “You will make it. Now let’s see if we can pull this out.”
    She nodded, and looked away. Phillip knew it was up to him. He felt the place where the IV needle stuck into Cedar’s wrist. The tubing was attached to the needle, and could be replaced. If he only knew how to remove it without hurtingher. He could leave the needle in, even though it would be uncomfortable, and just free her from the tubing.
    â€œJust pull!” Cedar said, her eyes scrunched up.
    Phillip twisted and pulled out the tube. Cedar drew in a quick breath and the fluid squirted out from the IV all over the bed. Phillip reached for it as it whirled around like a wild snake. He finally grabbed it, pinched the end, knotted it, and attached it to the metal pole where the bag of fluid hung.
    â€œAll right, we’re in it now Cedar, we have to go!”
    â€œJust hang on.” Cedar pushed a paper towel on to the break in her skin where the IV had been. She held it there and gave him a quick nod.
    Phillip threw his jacket over Cedar’s hospital gown and they headed for the door. Cedar clutched her wrist as Phillip peered down the hallway both ways. His heart hammered in his chest, pounding a steady beat. I can’t believe we are really doing this, he thought, I’m going to be arrested. My future is over. They began scurrying down the hallway, like criminals on the loose. Cedar walked just behind Phillip, leaning into his back. As if just being closewould make this work, make her stronger. Their fast footfalls clapped on the hard floor, and they heard the intercom call out.
    â€œCode 66 in room 305!”
    And the hospital came to life. Doors opened everywhere, voices and footsteps could be heard all around them. Motion, all toward one room with an emergency. Was it them?
    â€œIn here!” Phillip called, and they ducked into a room and shut the door behind them. Doctors and nurses walked briskly down the hallway outside. Phillip sighed with relief until Cedar said slowly, “Phillip?”
    He turned around and saw an old woman with a shock of white hair, laying in her hospital bed, her hands wrapped around the