"I'm not going to die," I mumbled, even though I didn't feel entirely sure of that. It was just that I wanted him to know these things. Just in case. Maybe that was stupid, but I felt a little better having said it.

"It's just a hand," I said, starting to ramble without even realizing it was happening. "Right? It's only a hand. Plenty of people live with less than that. I'll be fine without a hand."

I paused, then almost laughed. It was so foolish, but the words just came out, "I'll have to learn how to use a fork with my left hand."