The Longest Nights After Surgery

My physical therapist asked what got me through a hard recovery and I realized I'd never actually said this part out loud. During the worst week after my surgery in Chattanooga, unable to sleep from the pain, I felt something steady sit with me through the night, present in a way the empty room shouldn't have allowed, that had nothing to do with the medication. I'm not a religious person by upbringing. Whatever kept vigil with me those nights felt steadier than anything the medication gave me, and it stayed until morning.