“I am truly sorry, Mr. And Mrs. Willoughby, but there is nothing more that we can do,” said Dr. Fred Patterson, Chief of Medicine at Hudson City Memorial Hospital. He frowned deeply, as he stared down at the patient lying comatose among a nest of wires and tubes. “Mason's injuries are too severe. We repaired what we could, but his lungs, heart and liver are failing. With total life support he'll probably last another two weeks, maybe three. Right now it's a question of when, not if.”

Evelyn Willoughby choked back a sob as she turned her face into her husband Thomas' broad chest. Her hands clenched tightly in his jacket.