During the morning rounds, Elise adjusted the blood pressure cuff on Olivia’s arm and noticed faint purple marks just above the elbow. “Those from the IV tape?” she asked lightly. Olivia nodded too quickly, eyes fixed on the floor. “Yeah. I think so. My skin bruises easily.”
Elise made a note but didn’t comment. She’d heard the same explanation from dozens of women before, and sometimes it was true. Sometimes it wasn’t. She tightened the cuff, silently counting the seconds while Olivia stared straight ahead, breathing as if under interrogation.