“Sister began coughing. She did it lightly at dinner, with her hand cupped over her mouth and her eyes squeezed shut. The coughing was deep and grating. Her body shook with the force. Sister coughed three times, sighed, then resumed eating. She took two bites of her food before her hand went back over her mouth. Sister coughed again. She wheezed. She turned to the side and leaned, then coughed so much, some of the chewed food came out of her mouth. She gasped and coughed again. The coughing was rough on her body. She could not get enough air. Brother reached over and slapped his hand against her back.”
